Vaccines Have the Power to Protect
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 21-28 this year. Become a Champion for Health for the children in your life.
At EverThrive Illinois, we understand it can be challenging to choose what’s best for your children’s health, leading to feeling overwhelmed. Vaccines act as a shield, preventing illness and ensuring better health.
Today, we invite you to join us on a journey of discovery and learning. Together, we’ll explore the importance of vaccinations and how they can protect the little ones you love and care for. Our goal is to offer parents, pregnant individuals, caregivers, and health care providers the necessary tools to make informed decisions about children’s health.
From vaccination schedules to important questions to ask your child’s doctor, we share helpful resources to support the well-being of the children in your life. We also offer tips for health care providers to ensure they can be Champions for Health too.
Choose the best path forward for you from the icons below.
Parents &
Caregivers
What Vaccines Does
Your Child Need?
Providers
Resources
You Have The Power to Become Your
Child’s Champion For Health
As a parent or caregiver, sometimes, not knowing and having more questions than answers can be scary. At EverThrive Illinois, we understand that those feelings are a natural part of parenting and pregnancy. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! We have found the best science-based information behind the power of vaccines. And, like doctors, we agree they are the best way to protect your little ones’ health and well-being.
We’re committed to raising awareness about the importance of keeping your children up to date on their vaccinations. We believe that with the correct information and resources, parents, caregivers, and pregnant people can confidently decide what is best for their children’s well-being. We want to support you as you fulfill your mission of loving, caring for, and protecting your children. Click the text below for more information.
Questions To Ask Your Child’s Health Care Provider
As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to protect your children's health and well-being. You are their ultimate Champion for Health.
- Making sure your children grow up healthy and successful is a top priority. Staying informed is important. By asking questions, reading accurate sources written by health experts, and speaking with doctors, you can learn more about vaccinations and make informed decisions.
- If you’re concerned about vaccinating your children, have an open conversation with their doctor, pediatrician, or primary care physician.
Remember that it’s your right to ask questions and seek answers until you feel confident with your decision. Here are a few questions to start the conversation with your child’s health care provider:
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- How are vaccines safe?
- What is in my baby’s/child’s vaccines?
- What is the immune system?
- Will vaccines damage my baby/child’s immune system?
- Why should I get my baby/child vaccinated?
- Can vaccines cause the disease that they are supposed to prevent?
- What are the possible side effects of vaccines?
- What are the risks of not vaccinating?
More information for Parents
Vaccines have a positive impact on the lives of the little ones you love.
- Vaccines prevent serious diseases by working with your body’s immune system and have been used successfully for over 200 years to eradicate diseases like Smallpox.
- To make sure all vaccines are safe and effective before they are given to any child, they undergo many tests, clinical trials, and safety measures.
- Vaccines are universally recommended for all infants and children ages 0 to 5 and beyond.
- Making sure your child is vaccinated on time can help to protect them against 14 diseases, such as measles and whooping cough, before the age of 2.
- Common side effects from vaccines can include pain, swelling, tiredness, headaches, chills, and muscle aches. These are usually mild and go away within 1-2 days.
Stay up-to-date and schedule your children's vaccines now.
- Diseases like measles and whooping cough are highly contagious and can be very serious and expensive to treat. Vaccines are the best way for you to shield your children from getting seriously ill, hospitalized, and even dying.
- Consult your child’s doctor to identify necessary vaccines, payment options, and associated costs.
Not getting your baby or child vaccinated has its own costs.
- Vaccinating your child late puts them at risk of getting serious illnesses, which can be expensive. You can find information about free or low-cost vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/vfc-information-for-parents/index.html
- If you and your family are enrolled in Medicaid, or if you are uninsured or underinsured, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines to eligible children at no cost. Ask your child’s doctor or nurse to see if they are a VFC provider.
- Your family may also qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers many childhood vaccines.
- Local health departments and community health centers may also offer low-cost vaccinations.
Recommended Immunizations
- Birth
- 1 Month
- 2 Months
- 4 Months
- 6 Months
- 12 Months
- 15 Months
- 18 Months
- 19-23 Months
- 2-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
Health Care Providers Have a
Shared Responsibility in Ensuring
Children Stay Healthy
As a doctor, primary care physician, or health care provider, you are a Champion for Health. To help bridge the gap and effectively communicate important vaccine messages, cultural competence is key when working with diverse communities.
Understanding cultural nuances involves listening and using easy-to-understand terms. It also implies using simple/simplified explanations that can help educate, empower, and encourage parents about preventive care methods, like vaccination. We invite health care providers to reference the following information to better connect with the patients they see.
Encourage Open Dialogue with Your Patients
Be a Champion for Health by being welcoming and serving as a guide in your patients' journey to better understand vaccinations and their role in their children's care.
- Communicate respectfully and empathetically with parents and caregivers about vaccines and their protective powers. Use clear, current, and compelling communication to establish trust and good relationships among parents and caregivers.
- Make sure that communication with your patients is clear, and the terms you use are not overly medical and distant from people’s experiences. Poor communication can lead to serious consequences for the health and well-being of children, as well as perpetuate disparities. That’s why making vaccine-related explanations easy to understand and digestible for everyone is essential.
- When parents or caregivers express their concerns about vaccinations, it’s important to share your recommendation and emphasize the importance of vaccinating their child. Be clear and specific about which vaccines their child needs to receive. For instance:
- “I strongly recommend your child get these vaccines today.”
- “These shots are very important to protect them from serious diseases.”
- “I believe in vaccines so strongly that I vaccinate my own children on time.”
- Instead of saying, “What do you want to do about shots?” Say, “Your child needs three shots today. Do you have any questions about that?”
- Instead of saying, “Have you thought about the shots your child needs today?” Say, “Your child needs DTaP, Hib, and Hepatitis B shots today. Do you have any questions I can answer?”
More Information for Providers
Engage in open and honest conversations so you can learn about the cultural nuances of the diverse patients in your care.
- As a trusted source of information on vaccines, you have the opportunity and privilege to provide a safe space for parents and caregivers to ask questions and share concerns, helping them make informed decisions for their children.
- When explaining vaccine benefits, ask parents and caregivers if they understand the language being used and listen attentively.
- Encourage parents and caregivers to learn about the significance of vaccinations, well-child visits, and ways to promote healthy and thriving lives for their children by using accessible language.
Be a Champion for children's health during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW).
- Doctors, nurses, health care professionals, and office staff are crucial in promoting effective communication about vaccines and ensuring high vaccination rates in practices.
- This year, focus on making sure that the families you work with feel comfortable and secure enough to ask any questions and express concerns about vaccinations.
- Emphasize the importance of staying on time with infant and childhood immunizations to parents, caregivers, and pregnant people.
- Reach out to any parents or caregivers who may have missed or delayed their child’s routine visits and vaccinations. Urge them to schedule these critical appointments as soon as possible.
Resources
Free and low-cost vaccine options for Children:
Vaccines for Children Program Find Free Vaccines – Vaccinate Your Family
Vaccines for Pregnant Individuals:
Explore how vaccines work:
See how you can support your children before, during, and after shots:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/before-during-after-shots/less-stress.html
Are you a provider who wants to share timely reminders about immunizations with families? Check out the Immunization Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics to find useful resources for social media, websites, and newsletters!