Immunize Our Children. Protect The Circle of Life.

“Let us put our minds together to see what life we can make for our children.” 
—Sitting Bull, Lakota Sioux, 1877 

Vaccines—a responsibility to our children
One of the best ways to protect your children against disease is to have them vaccinated.  
Vaccination (also called immunization or baby shots) starts at birth. An early start is very important because your young baby's immune system is not strong enough to fight diseases.  
Vaccines boost the immune system without causing diseases. Vaccines protect children against some diseases and help keep babies healthy. Protect your children by getting them all the recommended vaccines before they are two years of age. Please, don't delay.

Vaccine Success Story
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beth Bell, MD 
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children have a greater risk of getting some vaccine-preventable diseases than other U.S. children. Fortunately, strong vaccination efforts in tribal communities have greatly lowered the number of illnesses and deaths. The success of the hepatitis A vaccine illustrates this point.

Before the hepatitis A vaccine was available, AI/AN children and adults were far more likely to get hepatitis A (a disease of the liver) than the rest of the U.S. population. This disease still strikes AI/AN communities across the United States, but the hepatitis A vaccine saves many people from becoming sick or dying.
Ask your health care provider which vaccines your child needs. Keep the circle strong.

Vaccines prevent these diseases:
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Polio
Rubella [German Measles]
Pertussis [Whooping Cough]
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B 
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Bacterial Meningitis
Pneumococcal Disease 
Varicella [Chickenpox] 

But I’ve never even seen some of these diseases! 
Today, we see fewer people getting sick from these diseases in the U.S. The reason is that responsible tribal health care providers and parents have given millions of children vaccines over the past years. 
But don’t be fooled. Those diseases are still out there. If we stop giving our children vaccines, the diseases that made people sick and even killed them only a few years ago will return.

Vaccines—a responsibility to our communities 
Vaccines protect more than your child. They protect the entire tribal community. If enough people in our communities are protected, vaccine-preventable diseases will not be passed to our children, our families, and our children.
Have your child vaccinated and help protect the circle of life.

Where can I get my child vaccinated? 
Tribal clinics
Indian Health Service facilities 
Local health departments
Community, urban or rural health center clinics
Vaccines for Children participating provider* 

*American Indian and Alaska Native children, through 18 years of age, can get vaccines through the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) at no charge. Ask if your doctor is a “VFC" participating provider. If your doctor is, you can get your child’s shots in the doctor’s office.

“You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and every thing tries to be round....” 
—Black Elk, Ogalala Sioux Holy Man 


For more information: 
CDC Website–www.cdc.gov/nip/specint/na • Vaccines For Children–www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc or  
404-639-8222 
CDC National Immunization Information Hot Line 
TTY: 800-243-7889, ESPAÑOL: 800-232-0233, ENGLISH: 800-232-2522 

Safer • Healthier • People™