State health immunization experts have launched a statewide immunization campaign entitled “Immunize for Good,” with the goal of educating parents that vaccinations are safe and effective in preventing serious childhood illnesses.

The campaign is led by the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition (CCIC), a statewide nonprofit that works with parents, healthcare providers, public health departments, businesses, policy makers and community organizations to ensure children receive vaccinations. CCIC's website said its mission is to “promote improved access, delivery and demand for children's vaccinations to keep Colorado healthy.”

Influenza, pertussis, chicken pox, mumps, measles, polio and meningitis are among the many illnesses the campaign looks to prevent. Its website said today's parents don't realize the consequences of these illnesses.

“Parents of past generations know too well the fear and suffering vaccine-preventable diseases cause,” the website says. “Parents today are typically so far removed from these devastating diseases that some believe the risk of vaccinating outweighs the risks of the disease.”

Lydia McCoy, executive director of the CCIC, said the campaign was launched in part because of an increased hesitancy to vaccinate.

“Parents have a lot of fears,” McCoy said.

CCIC's campaign consists of radio spots throughout the state, billboards in the Denver metro area, online videos and an interactive website.

McCoy said the campaign's website is filled with science-based and anecdotal information to engage parents and address concerns.

“Hopefully they're able to get what they want from the site and not be overwhelmed,” she said.

Immunize for Good's website cited a 2010 national survey that showed that 88 percent of parents followed the Center for Disease Control's recommended vaccination schedule. It said 54 percent of parents were concerned about the vaccines.

Doni Mathis, an RN at Ebert Children's Clinic in Frisco, estimated that 90 to 95 percent of Summit County parents vaccinate their children. She said parents who don't vaccinate their children express concern over vaccine safety. She said allergic reaction to vaccine ingredients are a worry, but not common.

“In all of my years of practice, I've never seen a severe reaction,” Mathis said of her 40 plus years as a nurse.

Mathis said her clinic always recommends that children receive their vaccinations in order to keep themselves and others healthy.

“We're pretty emphatic about (children) getting all the vaccinations,” she said.

Autism concerns refuted

A 1998 study linking the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) to autism resulted in concern over vaccinations. The CDC said “evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association.” The 1998 study, conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, was recently declared “an elaborate fraud” by the British Medical Journal. The journal said data used in the report was doctored and altered by its author.

McCoy said the recent retraction of the study was “an exciting day.” She said the public health community has known for some time the study was flawed, and it only played on the fears of parents trying to make the right decisions for their children.

McCoy said vaccinations protect children from harm.

“The choice to immunize is for the good of your child,” Immunize for Good's website says. “When they're safe and protected, they can get out there and be kids — learn, live, experience, enjoy.”

For more information about CCIC and its campaign, visit www.immunizeforgood.com or www.childrensimmunization.org.