Vaccines | Vacunas

Para escuchar en Español, entre al Podcast Cafe con ALASI: https://youtu.be/RyJ6auKHUzk

Transcript in English:

Café con ALASI – VACCINES

Hello, hello families! How are you doing today? Welcome back to Café con ALASI, a space where we share information, support one another, and help our families thrive.

I'm Rossina Sandoval, Executive Director of ALASI, and today we're talking about something many families are thinking about as the school year approaches: vaccinations for children before entering school. This podcast was developed with the support of the Dubois County Health Department.

If you have a child getting ready for preschool, kindergarten, or starting a new school, this episode is for you.

Why Do Schools Require Vaccinations?

Many parents wonder: Why does my child need vaccines before starting school?

The answer is simple: vaccines help protect children from serious diseases that can spread quickly in classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, and school buses.

Schools bring together hundreds of children every day. Children share toys, pencils, books, tables, and lots of germs. Because young children are still developing their immune systems, they can become sick more easily and spread illnesses to others.

Imagine putting glitter on one child's hand. By the end of the day, that glitter would be on desks, pencils, books, and many other children's hands. Germs can spread in a very similar way.

Vaccines help create a safer learning environment for everyone.

When most children in a school are vaccinated, diseases have a much harder time spreading. This protects not only vaccinated children but also babies, children with certain medical conditions, and others who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.

What Diseases Do Vaccines Help Prevent?

Many of us have never seen diseases like measles, polio, or whooping cough. That's because vaccines have been so successful.

However, these diseases still exist, and outbreaks can happen when vaccination rates drop.

Vaccines commonly required for school entry help protect against diseases such as:

• Measles

• Mumps

• Rubella

• Polio

• Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

• Diphtheria

• Tetanus

• Hepatitis B

• Chickenpox (Varicella)

• Bacterial Meningitis

These illnesses are much more serious than many people realize.

For example, measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, hospitalization, and in rare cases even death. Whooping cough can be especially dangerous for babies and young children. Bacterial meningitis, although rare, can cause death within hours because it affects the brain and spinal cord.

Vaccination helps prevent these illnesses before children are exposed to them.

Protecting Your Child Before They Need Protection

One of the most important things to understand about vaccines is that they work best before a child is exposed to a disease.

Think of a vaccine like a fire drill. We don't wait until there's a fire to teach children what to do. We prepare ahead of time.

Vaccines prepare the immune system to recognize and fight a disease if exposure occurs later.

By the time your child walks into a classroom, rides a school bus, attends a birthday party, or joins a sports team, their body is already prepared to protect them.

Why Timing Matters

Some vaccines require multiple doses over time to provide the strongest possible protection.

That's why healthcare providers follow a recommended immunization schedule throughout infancy and childhood.

Waiting until the last minute before school starts can create challenges, especially if appointments are limited or records need to be updated.

If your child will be entering preschool, kindergarten, or a new school this year, now is a great time to:

• Review their vaccination records.

• Schedule a routine well-child visit.

• Ask questions about any vaccines they may still need.

• Make sure all required paperwork is completed before school begins.

Planning ahead can reduce stress and help ensure your child is ready for the first day of school.

Common Questions Parents Have

Many parents have questions about vaccines, and that's okay.

As parents, we want to make the best decisions possible for our children.

One common question is:

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccines help teach your immune system how to fight a disease before you ever get sick.

Think of it this way:

Imagine your immune system is a security team protecting your home. A vaccine is like showing that security team a photograph of a burglar before the burglar ever appears.

The security team studies the picture, learns what the burglar looks like, and develops a plan to stop them. Then, if that burglar ever tries to enter your house, the security team recognizes them immediately and knows exactly what to do.

That's what a vaccine does.

It gives your immune system a safe preview of a virus or bacteria. Not enough to make you sick, but enough for your body to learn what it looks like and how to fight it.

Without a vaccine, your body has to figure everything out while you're already sick. With a vaccine, your body has already practiced and can respond much faster.

Another way to think about it is like a fire drill at school. We don't wait for a real emergency to teach children what to do. We practice ahead of time so everyone knows how to react.

Vaccines are like a practice drill for your immune system. They help your body prepare before the real disease appears.

That's why vaccines are so important—they don't just help treat illness; they help prevent serious illness before it starts.

Are Vaccines Safe?

Before vaccines are approved for use, they go through years of testing and monitoring.

Even after approval, health experts continue monitoring their safety and effectiveness.

Like any medication, vaccines can have side effects, but most are mild and temporary, such as soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or tiredness.

For most children, the benefits of protection against serious diseases far outweigh the risks of these temporary side effects.

Another common question is:

Why Does My Child Need Vaccines If These Diseases Are Rare?

The reason many of these diseases are rare today is because generations of families chose to vaccinate their children.

If vaccination rates decrease significantly, these diseases can return and spread more easily.

Vaccination and School Success

When children stay healthy, they miss fewer days of school.

Healthy children are more likely to participate in class, enjoy activities, build friendships, and focus on learning.

Vaccines help reduce the risk of illnesses that can interrupt a child's education and create stress for families.

When children are protected, parents are less likely to miss work because of illness, and schools can remain healthier overall.

Vaccination is not only a health decision; it is also an investment in a child's ability to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

A Message for Our Community

To all the parents, grandparents, and caregivers listening today: thank you.

You work hard every day to provide for your children, keep them safe, and help them build a brighter future.

Making sure your children are up to date on their vaccinations is one more way to support their health and prepare them for success in school and in life.

If you have questions, talk with your child's healthcare provider. Ask questions. Share your concerns. Seek information from trusted medical professionals, or visit our Health Department, the Dubois County Health Department, located at 1187 South Saint Charles Street, Jasper, In

diana 47546. It is located behind Toyota. They have trained staff who can assist you in Spanish, help schedule your children's vaccinations, and provide the vaccination certificate that must be submitted to the school.

The goal is not simply to meet a school requirement.

The goal is to help our children stay healthy, learn, play, and thrive.

Thank you for joining us for today's Café con ALASI.

If you found this information helpful, please share it with a friend, family member, or neighbor who has children preparing to start school this year.

Together, we can build a healthier, stronger, and more informed community.

I'm Rossina Sandoval, Executive Director of ALASI, and until next time, take good care of yourselves and take care of one another.

Goodbye, everyone!