Maine leaders of primary care professions in pediatrics, family practice and osteopathy got together during National Immunization Awareness Month (August) to plan to write about the importance of vaccines. 

Together, with over 90 years of medical experience, we represent approximately 1,500 physicians who aim to optimize Maine’s health. We recommend immunizations, according to the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

Immunizations represent an amazing scientific advancement giving us our best shot. They save lives and money. 

Since the 1920s, childhood vaccines have been estimated to have saved over 100 million cases of contagious diseases, according to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (van Panhuis, 2003). Immunization programs have been estimated to have saved $15 dollars for every $1 spent (Zhou F, 2005).

Maine is proud to now have one of the highest immunization rates for toddlers in the country. This is thanks to collaborative work with programs such as Quality Counts, hard-working primary care providers, dedicated health care workers and informed parents. Persistent public persuasion of the importance of vaccinations has led to smallpox elimination and paralytic polio nearly eradicated in our world. Measles was even deemed eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, but that particular disease has recently reared its head.

Why would we ever see a resurgence of measles?

Pockets of unimmunized people are susceptible to vaccine-preventable disease, such as measles.

Unimmunized people can bring measles back from countries where it is still epidemic. An unimmunized person in the same room as someone (initially without a rash) who is contagious with measles stands a 90 percent chance of contracting measles.

Measles spreads like a Western wildfire because it is one of the most contagious airborne diseases. The best way to stop measles dead in its tracks is to increase community immunity.

Vaccines are for kids and adults alike. A great way to protect the young is to immunize those who are older. 

Parents who are immunized reduce the risk of illness in themselves and their babies. It’s a concept called “cocooning.” This strategy works especially well for pertussis, flu and varicella (chicken pox). 

When older people get pertussis, it tends to cause a little cold; but in a baby, pertussis can kill.

Flu can also be deadly in young and old alike. The painful shingles is a virus in adults that can cause chicken pox if transferred to the under-immunized young.

Vaccines prevent miserable disease in ourselves and those loved ones around us.

Then there is human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease.

Most people are aware that HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. All teen girls should be offered the series to prevent this common cancer that can kill young adults.

What may not be as known is that:

* It is usually a male partner who gives this infection to women;

* It is not only linked to penile cancer, but it can also cause some testicular cancers; and

* Men who have this virus are much more likely to need adult circumcision or to develop other more serious sexually transmitted diseases.

The HPV vaccine prevents cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, mouth and throat.

At least 8,000 men and women in the United States die from HPV-related cancer each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). 

Immunization of all teen boys can prevent these serious and very painful consequences. HPV vaccination allows both guys and gals to live longer and healthier lives.

Providers and parents need to find common ground. They need to respectfully listen to each other, to raise the level of the discussion, to do what’s best for community immunity.

Preventable infectious diseases still can be bugaboos capable of killing kids and loved ones. Immunizations are a solid way to save lives by preventing dozens of infectious diseases.

So, roll up your sleeves if your provider says you are due for a shot, because it can keep you and your community healthy, happy and alive.

Janice L. Pelletier, M.D., FAAP, is president of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She lives in Orono. William Sturrock, M.D., is president of the Maine Association of Family Practice and lives in Orrington. Lisa Gouldsbrough, D.O., FAAP, is president of the Maine Osteopathic Association. She lives in Biddeford.