This post is republished from DoD Live
Vaccines have been saving lives on and off the battlefield for hundreds of years. Since George Washington first inoculated his troops from smallpox in 1777, our servicemembers have been better prepared to engage in battle and live long, healthy lives – knowing they are protected from some of the world’s deadliest diseases.
Of course, other vulnerable populations like children need this protection too. Today, children typically receive vaccinations for 14 diseases. Before vaccines, these diseases claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. And now, because of widespread vaccination, diseases like polio in the U.S. and smallpox worldwide that were once life-threatening have been completely eradicated.
Getting your child vaccinated has benefits beyond the child who receives the immunization. Immunizations protect your children’s friends, schoolmates, and others they come into contact with who may not have been vaccinated for one reason or another. Grandchildren and future generations are protected from diseases when their parents and grandparents have received immunizations. And the more that children are immunized, the lesser the prevalence of the disease, encouraging its eventual eradication.