Family Health Shot Clock: Childhood and Adolescent Immunizations SouthCrest Family Practice Physician Spells Out the Basics

As parents we are often asked to make important healthcare decisions concerning our children. To have your child immunized is certainly one of these decisions. “The recommended immunizations are constantly being tweaked and modified. I understand why the whole childhood and adolescent immunization scenario can be very confusing for parents,” says board-certified family practice physician, Jeffrey Howard, M.D. This is precisely why Dr. Howard is leading a discussion about current requirements and recommendations for vaccinations on Tuesday, January 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the SouthCrest Medical Plaza, 91st & HWY 169, in the Education Center, Suite 145. Dr. Howard’s practice, Mingo Valley Medical Group, is located on the SouthCrest Hospital campus at 9001 S. 101st E. Avenue, Suite 270, (918-392-7000). He provides complete healthcare for patients of all ages – from infants to geriatric patients. “Unfortunately, our state gets very low marks when it comes to having our kids immunized,” Dr. Howard says. “I want to change all that and provide parents with a basic understanding of immunizations to help them make an informed decision as to what’s best for their child.” Dr. Howard intends to demystify childhood and adolescent immunizations at his class by covering: • The most up-to-date immunization schedules – what is recommended and at what intervals; • New vaccinations for adolescents; • Identifying each individual shot and the disease it eradicates; • A slide presentation and explanation of common childhood diseases of “days gone by” and what they actually look like. “There’s a reason we rarely see mumps, measles, polio or smallpox any more,” Dr. Howard says. “I believe this is the direct result of having our children immunized.” A possible stumbling block for some parents may be the controversy associating immunizations with autism. “It’s very important to point out this has never been scientifically proven,” Dr. Howard says. “In my opinion, contracting one of these diseases, which can sometimes have long-term effects, outweighs the potential risks of the vaccinations.” Informative Website For those who will not be able to attend Dr. Howard’s session in January, he recommends checking out the main website for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at www.cdc.gov. “When using the Internet, it’s important to make sure you’re referring to a well-documented source. The CDC is certainly a reputable source that provides the potential pros and cons of immunizations, as well as a wealth of information on other health issues,” Dr. Howard says.  For more information regarding SouthCrest Hospital and its full menu of services, please visit www.southcresthospital.com. SouthCrest Healthy Living Class “Childhood and Adolescent Immunizations” Jeffrey Howard, M.D. Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m. SouthCrest Medical Plaza • 91st & HWY 169 Education Center • Suite 145 Call 294-DOCS to register