SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- Illinois health officials are urging parents to talk with their health care providers about getting children up to date on vaccines.
National figures show about 80 percent of Illinois children get the recommended immunizations by age 2.
Vaccines for this age group protect against whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and several other diseases.
This is National Infant Immunization Week, a time when public health departments are encouraged to promote the importance of protecting infants.
Medical experts agree childhood immunizations are safe.
Vaccines have led to the worldwide eradication of naturally occurring smallpox and the near elimination of polio.
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On the Net:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/
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