What You Need to Know About Vaccinating Kids

Right now, we’re seeing firsthand what happens when vaccination rates decline. We interviewed Community pediatrician, Dr. Kathy Polonka, about the importance of ensuring children are up to date on their vaccinations.

“Measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. As of Feb. 26, 2026, 1,136 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States. There have been 10 new outbreaks reported in 2026," explains Dr. Polonka. "Of those cases, 92% were unvaccinated or unknown vaccine status. For the full year of 2025, a total of 2,281 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States."

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective. However, vaccination rates among kindergartners have decreased from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023-2024 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk. Declining vaccine rates also put younger children and infants who are not yet eligible for MMR vaccination at risk for severe illness and death.

Children receive multiple vaccines throughout childhood to keep them safe. Here are a few things to remember when you schedule your kid’s vaccinations, including the flu vaccine.  

Vaccines Work.

The American polio epidemic is a great case study to show just how effective vaccines can be. Polio is a life-threatening disease that can cause permanent paralysis and death. For Americans in the 1940s and early 1950s, it was a very real threat to their everyday life.

The scientific community raced to prepare a vaccine, and two were successful: one in 1955 and one in 1963. Children across the nation were put on vaccination schedules, and polio cases rapidly fell to fewer than 100 each year.

Since 1979, not a single case of polio has originated in the U.S. Our country was officially declared polio-free in 1994. The moral is clear: polio kills, but vaccines killed polio in the United States.

You Can Always Talk to Your Doctor.

The childhood immunization schedule is designed with your child’s safety in mind. Vaccines are given at times when children are most vulnerable to the diseases they protect against. Many people have never seen illnesses such as polio because vaccination has been so successful.

Parents often worry that children receive too many vaccines at once, but children’s immune systems are strong. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies and young children are exposed to about 2,000 to 6,000 immune‑triggering substances, or antigens, every day. In comparison, the entire recommended pediatric immunization schedule exposes a child to about 165 antigens.

Your child’s doctor has their best interest at heart. “I always encourage families to ask questions and voice any concerns they may have. The internet is rampant with misinformation on vaccines, and I direct my families to reliable sources for vaccine information and safety,” assures Dr. Polonka. Multiple studies have shown vaccines are safe, effective, and do not cause Autism. (Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence - HealthyChildren.org).

The Flu Shot Can't Give Your Kid the Flu.

While there’s no cure for the flu, the flu vaccine can help protect your kid from contracting the most common influenza viruses each season. To understand how the vaccine works, let’s talk about how the virus works first.

The flu is caused by an active flu virus entering your mouth, nose or eyes. The virus binds to cells and forces those cells to create more flu particles and proteins. That cell then infects other cells around it, and eventually you get sick.

The flu vaccine does contain the flu virus in small amounts, but it’s not active. Your immune system can detect the inactive virus and mount a defense, but the inactive virus can’t infect you. It’s “dead,” so it can’t bind to your cells and give you the flu.

Your Kid Might Feel a Bit Sick After Getting Vaccinated.

Most vaccine side effects are minor and resolve within a few days. The most common side effects for kids are fever, soreness of their leg or arm, sleepiness or fussiness, red swelling at the injection site, loss of appetite or stomach upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. In most cases, pain relief can be provided to help with mild symptoms. Serious side effects are rare, and vaccine safety is monitored continuously. 

Routine childhood vaccines are the simplest way to protect your child’s health. Ask your doctor about any questions you might have about vaccines, and to get your kid scheduled.

Sources:

Measles Cases and Outbreaks | Measles (Rubeola) | CDC

Fact Checked: Receiving Multiple Vaccines Does Not Overwhelm a Child’s Immune System

Possible Side Effects from Vaccines | Vaccines & Immunizations | CDC