Submitted by Providence Swedish
Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to help keep children healthy. They protect against serious diseases while also keeping others safe in the community, including infants, grandparents, classmates and people who may not be able to receive certain vaccines. To better understand the importance of childhood immunizations and their role in preventing serious illness, we spoke with Dr. Penelope Goode, an emergency medicine physician and medical director at Providence St. Peter Hospital.
Many diseases that vaccines protect against are not common today because vaccines have worked so well. But these illnesses have not disappeared. Some can cause serious complications, hospital stays or even death. Vaccines help the body get ready to fight those infections before a child is exposed.
“There’s a subset of the population that is going to get complications [from vaccine preventable illnesses],and they run the risk of becoming significantly ill from these infections,” Goode said.
When more people are vaccinated, diseases have fewer chances to spread. This is especially important for babies who are too young for some vaccines, people with weakened immune systems and patients in hospitals who may already be very sick. “People who can’t get the vaccines are still protected when there’s not a lot of the disease around,” Goode said. “This is called ‘herd immunity.’”
When fewer people are vaccinated, diseases can come back and spread more easily. That can put families, schools and hospitals at risk. “People get sick and they bring these diseases into a hospital where patients are often more vulnerable,” Goode said. “It can put a lot of people at risk.”
Because vaccines have made many diseases rare, some people may not know how dangerous those illnesses can be. Goode said that can make it harder for families to understand why vaccines are still important. “Vaccine programs have been so effective that people don’t know what these illnesses look like,” she said. “They don’t know how sick people can get.”
Illnesses Doctors Do Not Want to See Return
Vaccines help protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, whooping cough, meningococcal disease and cancers caused by HPV. Each disease is different, but the goal is the same: to prevent illness before it starts.
Goode said whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies. “Pertussis [whooping cough] is dangerous for babies,” she said. “These little guys get super, super sick and can die.”
She also pointed to meningococcal disease as an example of illness vaccines can help prevent. “Meningococcus is a devastating and often fatal illness that doesn’t need to happen because this is an effective vaccine,” she said.
In the emergency department, doctors may need to take extra steps when a very sick baby or young child has not had recommended vaccines. Without that protection, doctors must consider more serious infections. “When a family comes in with a sick toddler or baby and they’re not vaccinated for anything, it can make their workup bigger. It makes the degree of worry bigger,” Goode said. “They may be subject to more evaluation, more testing, than if they were vaccinated.”
That can mean more stress for families and more testing or treatment for children, the very things many families hope to avoid.
For Parents With Questions, Start With a Trusted Doctor
It is normal for parents and caregivers to have questions about their child’s health. Goode said the best conversations are respectful, based on facts and guided by trusted medical advice. Doctors and other care teams can help families understand the benefits and risks of vaccines and answer questions about timing, safety and recommended schedules.
Families should talk with their child’s pediatrician or primary care provider if they have questions. They should also use trusted medical sources when looking for information. “Please don’t trust someone on Instagram over trusting your pediatrician,” Goode said. “Fact check when you hear things that worry you and look it up in a reputable source — not social media.”
Parents and caregivers can start by checking their child’s vaccine record, reviewing school or childcare requirements and asking their child’s provider if any vaccines are due. If a child has missed a vaccine, a provider can help make a catch-up plan.
“We’re not playing games here in healthcare. We’re trying to keep people healthy,” Goode said. “Take the preventive measures so you don’t have to show up in my emergency department.”
Vaccines are an important part of keeping children healthy and helping families avoid serious illness whenever possible. By staying up to date on recommended immunizations and working closely with trusted healthcare providers, families can help protect not only their own children, but the health and well-being of the entire community.
“Regardless of your child’s vaccination status, we are ready and able to care for your children,” concludes Goode. “We have board certified Emergency Medicine physicians and Seattle Children’s inpatient pediatricians who are fully trained to use evidence-based medicine to deliver safe and effective care. We understand there is a lot of conflicting information that is available, however we are prepared to help your families understand the recommendations better so you can make informed choices for your families.”
About Providence St. Peter Inpatient Pediatrics Unit
At Providence St. Peter Hospital, our inpatient pediatric team provides compassionate, family-centered care for infants, children and teens close to home. Staffed 24/7 by Providence pediatric nurses and Seattle Children’s physician hospitalists, the unit cares for a wide range of medical conditions, from common childhood illnesses to more complex health needs. Through our partnership with Seattle Children’s, families have access to leading pediatric expertise, specialty consultations and seamless coordination of care when advanced treatment is needed. At every step, we are committed to clear communication, helping families feel informed, supported and confident in their child’s care.
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