"Before the rotavirus vaccine, 55,000 to 70,000 children were hospitalized annually for the disease. Universal vaccination slashed this number by more than 80%. Rotavirus strikes suddenly: fever, relentless vomiting and diarrhea set in. Severe dehydration follows, evident in lethargy, dry mouth and lips, doughy skin and weak cries."
"A hospital stay in California costs about $4,700 each day. A pediatric ICU stay could cost up 4 times more than that. After a typical hospitalization, families face their annual health insurance premium of about $7,000, a deductible of $4,000 a year, an emergency room copay of several hundred dollars, and 20% coinsurance for hospitalizations."
"The decision in January made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to kneecap our national vaccine schedule—cutting protection against 17 diseases down to 10—is a dangerous decision that puts anti-vaccine ideology ahead of the well-being of children and families."
The CDC's decision to reduce the national vaccine schedule from protecting against 17 diseases to only 10 creates dual risks: compromised child health and severe financial consequences for families. Vaccines prevent serious illnesses and hospitalizations that can bankrupt households. A case study illustrates how a family with $40,000 annual savings faces potential financial ruin if their infant contracts rotavirus, requiring pediatric ICU hospitalization costing tens of thousands of dollars. Before rotavirus vaccination, 55,000-70,000 children were hospitalized annually; vaccination reduced this by over 80%. Medical expenses including insurance premiums, deductibles, emergency room copays, and coinsurance for hospitalization can quickly deplete family savings, making vaccine protection essential for both health and financial security.
#vaccine-schedule-reduction #child-health-protection #medical-financial-burden #rotavirus-prevention #family-healthcare-costs
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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