HealthBreak | Pediatric Immunizations

Vaccines are designed to protect us from dangerous diseases, and childhood vaccinations are crucial, according to Melissa Kleschen, MD - a pediatrician at Providence Grant Creek Family Medicine.

"Bringing children in on time for vaccinations is important because it will help protect them at their most vulnerable time," says Melissa Kleschen, MD - a pediatrician at Providence Grant Creek Family Medicine." The vaccination schedule has been very-well studied and validated; staying on that schedule is very important."

The Missoula health care providers at Providence Grant Creek Family Medicine clinic follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule.

"Two of the vaccines we give infants - Hib and Prevnar - protect against bacteria that can cause very serious illnesses, she explains. "There is a D-Tap vaccine that covers diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus; MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), chicken pox and polio vaccines are required for school entrance."

"The most important thing about pediatric vaccines is that they do protect our children from very serious diseases," Dr. Kleshcen emphasizes. "Some of them are very prevalent in our community; others we don't want to let back into our community. It's important we protect our children, which will also protect our community around us."