Include vaccines in back-to-school preps, doctor says

It isn’t unusual for for children to pick up more than an education from the classroom. Oftentimes, students are picking up germs.

While some of those illnesses ride their course without causing too much damage, there are others that can cause serious problems.

With the start of school for the remaining El Paso-area students on Monday, medical experts are urging parents to immunize their children to protect them from preventable illnesses.

Pediatrician Dr. Akintolu Akinjaiyeju said parents should talk with their child’s doctor to find out which vaccines are needed at the start of the school year, since it varies by age group.

One vaccine available is to prevent pertussis, or whooping cough, which doctors across the nation are reporting is on the rise.

Akinjaiyeju told ABC-7 he has treated two cases of whooping cough in the last year.

“We know that there’s a waning immunity with the whooping cough vaccine,” said Akinjaiyeju. “So we’re encouraging adults and caretakers that are around little kids to be vaccinated.”

A trend has emerged in recent years of parents refusing to immunize their children out of fear of side effects. Akinjaiyeju said parents should talk to their child’s doctor and ask questions to ease their concerns. The pediatrician said it is rare for children to be granted an exception to vaccination requirements in public schools, unless there is a documented allergy to ingredients in vaccinations.