Why I Immunize: Shielding Our Household Before Day One At 36 weeks pregnant, I recently took my whole family, my husband and our two kids, ages three and five, to get our flu and COVID shots together on a Friday afternoon. Four vaccinations, one clinic visit, and a celebratory pizza party afterward. I immunize because in just a few weeks, we are bringing a newborn baby home. Infants under six months cannot get these vaccines themselves. They rely entirely on the shield created by the people sleeping under the same roof. By getting our whole household vaccinated at once, I am able to pass protective antibodies to our baby before birth, while ensuring our three-year-old and five-year-old are much less likely to bring a preventable virus home from school. This proactive, practical approach to family health is also why I founded Ickly, a community-powered health radar that helps parents track local classroom illnesses. Every day, I work with families who are managing the chaotic logistics of sick season. Immunization is the single highest-impact tool we have to keep severe illnesses out of our homes, protect working parents' schedules, and safeguard vulnerable neighbors, including pregnant moms and newborns. We told our big kids that these shots are just practice for their immune systems so their bodies know how to fight off germs. For our family, vaccinating is a simple, ordinary act of love that lets us focus on what really matters: welcoming our newest member home, staying healthy, and enjoying our Friday night pizza. Anna-Mi Widman Mom of 2 (soon 3) and Founder of Ickly