WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — With the holidays on the horizon, pediatricians are reminding parents that it's not just the holiday shopping you should check off your to-do list.
Doctor Karen Ephlin is a pediatrician at Geisinger South in Wilkes-Barre.
"Around the holiday season, everyone wants to be together, everyone wants to see those new babies, but we need to make sure that they stay healthy," said Dr. Ephlin.
She says young children and babies are some of the most vulnerable during cold, flu, and RSV season.
"Unfortunately, babies and smaller children haven't been exposed to different illnesses like those of us who are older," she stated. "They haven't built up immunity to those diseases. That's why we try to give the vaccines as early as we can."
She says babies can get flu vaccines starting at six months old. A new RSV vaccine is safe for newborns and can protect babies before they're born.
"So, moms are able to get the vaccine the last few weeks of their pregnancy and that protects the baby for the first six months."
Dr. Ephlin says they started giving the RSV vaccines last year, and they're already seeing the impacts.
"We've really been seeing a decrease in the number of illnesses and the severity of illness. So, it's been a game changer for us in pediatrics."
She also wants to reassure parents, saying studies show no links between autism and vaccines. She also says not vaccinating can be a dangerous decision.
"When I was a child, we had chicken pox parties. You didn't think of it as anything. You thought of it as a rash. I've literally seen a child die from chicken pox," Dr. Ephlin stated.
Studies have shown that many of these developed vaccine shots have helped eradicate the most severe and deadly diseases, like pertussis and polio. She says it's important for families to be up to date on their TDAP vaccine if they're going to be around young children. The TDAP vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
"We don't think about the kids who had polio and were in iron lungs. These were very severe diseases. Thankfully, we're not seeing them because of vaccines. This is why we're not seeing them. So, we really do hope that families will vaccinate but can understand hesitancy," Ephlin added.
With the cold weather moving in and the trees starting to light up, she hopes parents will decide to help keep the holidays safe in every way possible.