Atrium Health Navicent Physicians Urge Families to Stay on Track with Immunizations
Atrium Health Navicent encourages parents and caregivers to join the health system in observing National Infant Immunization Week, April 24-30, by ensuring that their children, particularly those age 2 and younger, stay on track for routine check-ups and recommended vaccinations.
As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians recognize the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our children and communities from not just COVID-19, but many other vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, which observes World Immunization Week this week, vaccines prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Immunization prevents millions of deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.
“Ensuring children are current on annual pediatrician visits is critical, not only in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, but also checking for important developmental milestones,” said Dr. Yameika Head, director of Clinical Practice –Pediatrics for Atrium Health Navicent Medical Group. “If your child is due for a check-up, use this week as a reminder to schedule an appointment to get back on track!”
Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death.
Giving babies recommended vaccinations by age 2 is the best way to protect them from childhood diseases, like whooping cough, measles and polio. The CDC reports that among children born during 1994-2018, vaccination will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations and 936,000 deaths over their lifetimes.
For more information about recommended vaccination schedules for infants, contact your child’s primary care provider. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the fifth-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.