Brownwood News – National Immunization Awareness Month is celebrated annually in August to focus the attention of the public on the importance of vaccinations for people of all ages. Immunizations have significantly reduced the incidence of many serious infectious diseases; however, vaccination rates for some diseases are not meeting national public health goals. One of the goals of the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department is to educate the public about the importance of being vaccinated in order to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

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During the month of August the Health Department wants to highlight the need for vaccines across all age groups. Each week we will be focusing on a different age group and the vaccines required or recommended for that group. The week of August 5-11 the focus will be on the vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. 

Vaccines are an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Women should be up to date on their vaccines before becoming pregnant and should receive vaccines against both the flu and pertussis (whooping cough) during pregnancy. These vaccines not only protect the mother by preventing illnesses and complications, but also pass on vaccine protection to her unborn child.

Women who are planning to become pregnant may need to receive some vaccines before the start of pregnancy. These vaccines may need to be administered a number of weeks before a woman becomes pregnant so that she is adequately protected. Some vaccine-preventable diseases, such as rubella, can lead to significant complications, including birth defects.

Pregnancy is a good opportunity for women to start learning about the safe, proven disease protection that vaccines will provide to their babies once they are born. Pregnant women are at an increased risk for complications from the flu. The flu shot helps to protect a pregnant woman and her unborn child from the flu as well as lessen her symptoms if she does get the flu. A flu shot also allows the mother to pass antibodies to her newborn for some early flu protection. By getting a pertussis vaccine in the third trimester, the expectant mother also develops antibodies and passes them to her unborn child so that her baby is born with protection from whooping cough. 

It is also important for family members and friends to be up to date on their vaccines. Most newborns who come in contact with pertussis get it from the mother or another family member or friend of the family. Because infants can’t begin the vaccine series until they are two months of age, they are at increased risk of becoming ill with vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, it is very important to vaccinate the people who come in contact with the infant in order to protect it from illness. Vaccine-preventable diseases such as pertussis and flu can be devastating to the very young.

Women who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant can learn more about the vaccines they need by calling the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department at 325-646-0554, or visiting the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.com.

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