Don't take risks - get your children vaccinated

Life can be full of risks. Every time we step outside, we risk insect bites, car accidents or simply tripping on an uneven sidewalk. Of course, we don’t let these concerns rule our lives or change our daily activities. We take reasonable precautions, such as insisting our kids wear seatbelts and put on helmets when they take off on their bicycles.

As medical providers in this community we are very much aware of the health risks that surround us. So we take precautions. We evaluate coughs and colds, schedule routine checkups, and recommend children get vaccinated.

Many illnesses have been cured by vaccinations. Smallpox and polio are no longer a concern due to vaccinations. However, many diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and whooping cough are still around, so we have to take reasonable precautions and vaccinate against them. We all understand that there are risks involved in vaccination but no one should put their child or other children at risk for any of these diseases. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Vaccination of your child also protects the infants too young to receive the vaccination and the elderly, who are most susceptible to life-threatening disease. By vaccinating your child you not only are protecting your family, but the community of Havre as well.

As providers we’ve seen the devastation that can occur by declining vaccinations. Severe hospitalizations, permanent physical and mental delay, and death are amongst the symptoms of these vaccine-preventable illnesses. There is a reason the school districts require vaccination and additional information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and other websites where parents can gain accurate and research-guided information.

We care about your health, your children’s health and this community’s health. We agree with the requirements from the school districts that make getting vaccinations part of the protection that all children need. With vaccination you can remove some of the risks associated with identified illnesses.

Please get your children vaccinated and help protect their future.

Thank You!

Primary Care Providers at Northern Montana Hospital:

Joseph Berdecia, MD

Terence Hankins, DO

Kevin Harada, MD

Karrie Lien, MD

Michael Nolan, MD

Julie Dellerba, NP

Mark Jamieson, PA-C

Jessica Sheehy, PA-C

Daniel Sorensen, PA-C

Britney Wever, PA-C