KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County and several collaborating partners are issuing the fifth edition of "Plain Talk about Childhood Immunizations," a 52-page booklet with up-to-date information about immunizations for children.
"We all want to make the right decisions for our children and do what's best for our community. Public Health recommends that you become informed about immunizations and you immunize your child," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
Using a question and answer format, "Plain Talk about Childhood Immunizations" provides facts about vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, the immune system, how vaccines work and current vaccine recommendations. The booklet answers common questions about such issues as:
- weighing the risks of disease versus immunization
- multiple vaccines and immune system overload
- hepatitis B vaccine for newborns
- MMR vaccine and autism
- thimerosal and other vaccine ingredients
- hepatitis B vaccine and multiple sclerosis
The booklet is available free of charge at www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/childimmunity.htm or by calling 1-800-322-258 (only from Washington State.)
"This publication is essential reading for parents concerned about childhood immunizations," said Lauren Greenfield, an Immunization Nurse in Public Health's Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology and Immunization Section. "Immunizations are very safe, and children are far more likely to be harmed by serious infectious diseases than by immunizations."
Internationally-recognized booklet
"Plain Talk" has been reviewed and recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Network for Immunization Information. The World Health Organization published "Plain Talk" as an example of public service information on immunization.
Public Health - Seattle & King County produces "Plain Talk" in collaboration with the Snohomish Health District, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington, the Washington State Department of Health, and several other public and private agencies.
For information on Public Health's Immunization Program, accurate and science-based information on childhood, adult and travel immunizations, and a list of places in King County to receive immunizations, please visit www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization.
