Health Experts Agree Vaccines are Safe and Effective, says Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA)
DETROIT, Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Eight Public Health Officers serving our southeast Michigan communities agree that vaccines prevent outbreaks of disease and save lives. They urge that parents seek the appropriate vaccines for their children and that adults also seek the protection against communicable diseases.
One goal of public health is to prevent disease. It's easier and more cost-effective to prevent a disease than to treat it. Immunizations protect us from serious diseases and also prevent the spread of those diseases to others. Over the years, immunizations have prevented epidemics of once common infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough. Because of immunizations, we've seen the near eradication of others, such as polio and smallpox.
Vaccines are very effective at preventing disease. Most of the recommended childhood immunizations are 90%-100% effective, according to the CDC. When a critical portion of a community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak. Even those who are not eligible for certain vaccines—such as infants, pregnant women, or immunocompromised individuals—receive some protection because the spread of a contagious disease is contained.
The Southeastern Michigan Health Association is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting community health.
Residents with questions or concerns about immunizations, clinic schedules, or to speak with a Public Health Nurse located at your Local Health Department please contact:
Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion 313-976-4000
http://www.detroitmi.gov/How-Do-I/Find-Community-Services/Health-and-Wellness-Programs
Livingston County Health Department 517-546-9850
https://www.livgov.com/health/ph/Pages/immunization.aspx
Macomb County Health Department
Mount Clemens 586-469-5372;
Warren 586-465-8537;
http://health.macombgov.org/Health-Programs-FamilyHealthServices-ImmunizationClinic
Monroe County Health Department 734-240-7800
http://www.co.monroe.mi.us/government/departments_offices/public_health/clinic_services.html#Immunizations
Oakland County Health Division
248-858-1280 (Pontiac/North Oakland area)
248-424-7000 (Southfield/South Oakland area)
http://www.oakgov.com/health/Pages/program_service/immunize_about.aspx
St. Clair County Health Department 810-987-5300
http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/health/Vaccines.aspx
Washtenaw County Health Department 734-544-6700
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/public_health/disease_control/imms_all_things/Immunization_Program
Wayne County Health Department 734-727-7100
http://www.waynecounty.com/hhs/immunizationsandvaccines.htm
SOURCE Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA)
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