Because they are no longer widespread, preventing these diseases may not seem a top priority. But immunizations are still of utmost importance, says Dr. Jerold Woodhead, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and a staff physician at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Vaccines prompt the body to produce antibodies, which block the development of infection.
Some vaccines produce enough antibodies in only one dose.
Immunization laws vary among states. The haemophilus B vaccine, which protects against meningitis, is not yet required but strongly recommended. The Iowa Department of Public Health has a recommended schedule of immunizations, which is available from the department or any pediatrician. The first vaccines should be given at 2 months, followed by boosters at various intervals. In 1983, there was an all-time low of only 1,500 reported measles cases in the United States.