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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... Mail Tribune garners 11 first-place wins at ONPA ... Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... Mail Tribune garners 11 first-place wins at ONPA ... OUR VIEW Our View: Vaccines benefit everyone, save lives Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 18, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 18, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News News of dangerous diseases diagnosed in Jackson County has health officials concerned, and for good reason. It should concern parents, too, but too many still resist vaccinating their children. The Jackson County Public Health Division has been notified of four confirmed cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, and 15 cases of chicken pox since Thanksgiving. Not surprisingly, the diseases are more prevalent at schools with low immunization rates. Parents are understandably cautious about subjecting their children to vaccines, and there is some real risk, although it is extremely small. Too many parents, however, fall prey to false and misleading claims about vaccine safety.  No medical procedure, medication or vaccine is entirely without risk. Neither is driving to work in the morning or putting your child on a school bus, but we do these things anyway. Parents who refuse to vaccinate may think only their children are at risk, but that is far from the case. In the most recent outbreaks, those at risk include very young infants, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly. Whooping cough can be a serious illness for anyone who contracts it, with a violent cough that can linger for weeks. It can potentially kill infants too young to be vaccinated. Chicken pox, once a rite of passage for many children, is now preventable with a vaccine. Again, most cases are not life-threatening. But an unvaccinated pregnant woman — who may have school-age children at home — can suffer complications including pneumonia, and the disease can cause serious birth defects or life-threatening infections in her unborn child. In addition to these vulnerable populations, some individuals with chronic health conditions cannot be vaccinated, and are therefore at risk when otherwise healthy people go unvaccinated. Parents have the responsibility and the right to make medical decisions for their children. But they should consider their children's relatives, neighbors and classmates as well. When vaccination rates drop, it makes disease outbreaks more likely, and puts far more people at risk than just those unvaccinated children. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 18, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501