An unfortunate result of the already challenging situation this year due to the coronavirus pandemic is that many parents aren’t getting their children vaccinated for various diseases. As a result, some experts warn, archaic diseases are making a comeback.

At a time when COVID-19 is again rampaging through our communities and nation — with no vaccine in sight — and the flu season has begun, this is terrible news.

The United States is not alone in a decline in children getting life-saving vaccinations. The World Health Organization reported last summer that due to COVID-19, 2020 was the first in 28 years that saw a reduction in the number of children completing three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3), and at least 30 measles vaccinations were at risk of being canceled.

The state’s Department of Health noted that during the early months of the pandemic, routine visits and checkups to doctors and other specialists were, not surprisingly, down.

As a result, fewer children in the region were immunized.

This was made worse when the Department of Health temporarily suspended requirements for children to get vaccinated before returning to school.

Pediatricians are telling parents that now is a good time to bring their children in to get immunized. For those parents inclined to do so, this is good advice.

Not all parents choose to get their children vaccinated — and some exemptions are understandable. For example, children with extreme allergic reactions to such immunizations as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) obviously can’t be immunized due to conflicting health reasons.

But those whose children face no such conflicts should review the facts before making a decision.

Thousands of cases of measles have been discovered this year across 30 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the outbreak has been called the worst in 27 years.

With COVID-19 and the flu already causes for concern, it would seem that now would be a good time for parents to take preventative action against other conditions that can be prevented by immunization.

Similar to what has been said about COVID-19 — that engaging in practices such as washing hands regularly and wearing a mask is socially responsible — getting a vaccination not only protects your loved ones, but also everyone around you.

Let’s do our best to not add any other diseases to the list of ones already wreaking havoc on our community.

— NCD