Vaccine Preventable Childhood Diseases Vaccine Preventable Childhood Diseases Immunization protects against the following 10 serious diseases, which can cause disability and death. These diseases used to strike thousands of children each year. Today there are relatively few cases, but outbreaks still occur each year because some babies are not immunized. The varicella virus usually causes a rash, itching, tiredness and fever. It can lead to pneumonia, brain infection or death.
Complications occur most often in very young children, adults or people with damaged immune systems.
Three of 10 people who get tetanus die from the disease. Tetanus germs are found everywhere, usually in soil, dust and manure. Everyone should have a tetanus- diphtheria booster shot every 10 years to stay protected. Pertussis , more commonly known as whooping cough, is an extremely contagious disease that also may affect the brain and is very serious for children younger than 6 years of age. It can cause spells of violent coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe, drink or eat.