For Immediate Release August 31, 2022
Vaccines are the Very Cornerstone of Public Health
As the new school year approaches, it is important to remember the need to continue to immunize against various diseases
Statement Attributable to: Parag Mehta, MDPresident, Medical Society of the State of New York
“As the new school year approaches, it is important to remember the need to continue to immunize against various diseases. One of the most important missions of the Medical Society of the State of New York is to promote school-based immunizations and to encourage adults to maintain immunizations throughout life.
“Immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives every year. Vaccines reduce the risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds.
“The health of our patients depends on proper vaccinations. Vaccines are, in fact, the very cornerstone of public health. We must preserve community immunity to protect society—especially our most vulnerable newborns, pregnant women, the immune-compromised, and those with cancer. Vaccination can mean the difference between life and death. Vaccines are as crucial to your overall health as diet and exercise.
“As COVID-19 continues to mutate and spread and as Monkeypox cases rise and become an increasing public health threat, it is more important than ever to remind our patients about the importance of vaccinations. In addition, there is a reported case of polio in Rockland County, and the poliovirus has been detected in the wastewater in Rockland, Westchester, and NYC—which is concerning because more people may have it and not yet developed symptoms.
“Immunization is the best protection to prevent the spread of diseases, and vaccines have dramatically reduced new cases of infectious diseases and their devastating effect over the last 100 years. The importance of vaccines begins in infancy and continues right through adulthood. A vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease without having to get the disease first.
“Vaccinations are one of the world’s safest, most efficient forms of prevention today.”
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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.
Media Contact:Roseann Raia
Manager, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext. 302
rraia@mssny.org
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