Planning on skipping immunizations? Here's why you shouldn't

For months, we've been encouraging families to stay home as much as possible. Staying home means staying safe, but staying safe also means making sure your child gets the medical care they need to stay healthy. This includes checkups, immunizations and treatment of urgent or chronic medical conditions.

Whether your child is due for immunizations or is experiencing a symptom that concerns you, it's vital they receive the care they need. Many parents may feel hesitant to bring their child in to be seen, but know that you and your family's health and safety is our highest priority, which is why we've taken the following important measures.

We don't want your child exposed to illness in our offices, so we're scheduling checkups for well children in the mornings and visits for sick children in the afternoon. We're also rearranging waiting areas to promote social distancing, staggering appointment times to reduce traffic, enhancing cleaning in all areas (including additional disinfectant for high-touch spaces) and requiring universal masking.

Our goals with these measures is to reassure parents and let them know bringing their child in for vaccinations is a safe activity.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that on a national level, up to 80% of older children are not getting immunizations. This puts everyone at risk for many diseases other than COVID-19. As our world slowly begins to reopen, we want to emphasize that one of the most important things you can do to keep your children healthy is to bring them in for needed vaccinations.

If vaccinations aren't kept up to date, we face the loss of herd immunity, which protects us from disease, even those too young for immunizations or with conditions that prevent immunization. Approximately 90% of the population needs to be immune to a certain disease to achieve herd immunity. Vaccination makes this possible. If you have widespread or herd immunity in a population and someone enters the community with a disease, it won't spread widely. Measles, for example. All it takes is one person with measles to come into the community, and we then start to see rapid spread.

There are also diseases that vaccines prevent which children can still get while waiting out the pandemic at home, such as certain types of meningitis.

Unsure if your child is due for vaccinations? Call your pediatrician or check the CDC's vaccine schedule.

Telehealth is a fantastic new way for physicians to connect virtually with families. This can be done via video or over the phone for households without smartphones or a strong internet connection. There is a great deal of medical care that can be provided without being in the same room as patients. A few examples include taking care of children with mild illnesses, rash or behavioral concerns. Emergency situations, immunizations and physicals are not handled through virtual visits. If you aren't sure if something is right for a virtual visit, contact your child's provider.

Connecting virtually with your child's pediatrician can help you feel certain your child's doctor is still available to you and your child. Virtual connections provide easy access — you don't have to sit at home and worry about your child's health. Don't hesitate to discuss any concerns you may have about your child with your health care provider.

We look forward to seeing everyone again in person when the pandemic subsides, but please know that we are here and available for you now.

• Children's health is a continuing series. Dr. Julie Holland is vice president of pediatric primary care with the Chicagoland Children's Health Alliance, a partnership between Advocate Health Care and NorthShore University HealthSystem.