10 Things You Need to Know About Immunizations
Summary
Immunizations prevent dangerous diseases.
Several shots are needed by age 2.
Know what side effects to look for.
- Why should my child be immunized?
- What diseases do childhood vaccines prevent?
- How many shots does my child need?
- Do these vaccines have any side effects?
- Can they cause serious reactions?
- What do I do if my child has a serious reaction?
- Why can't I wait until school to have my child immunized?
- Why is a vaccination health record important?
- Where can I get free vaccines?
- Where can I get more information?
Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from dangerous childhood diseases. These diseases can have serious complications and even kill children.
| • | measles Children need immunizations. | |
| • | mumps | |
| • | polio | |
| • | rubella (German Measles) | |
| • | pertussis (whooping cough) | |
| • | diptheria | |
| • | tetanus (lockjaw) | |
| • | Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib disease—a major cause of bacterial meningitis) | |
| • | hepatitis A and B | |
| • | varicella (chickenpox) | |
| • | pneumococcal disease (causes bacterial meningitis and blood infections) | |
| • | meningococcal | |
| • | rotavirus | |
The following vaccinations are recommended by age 2 and can be given over 5 visits to a doctor or clinic:
4 doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
| • | 3 to 4 doses of Hib vaccine | |
| • | 4 doses of pneumococcal vaccine | |
| • | 3 doses of polio vaccine | |
| • | 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine | |
| • | 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine | |
| • | 1 dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) | |
| • | 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine | |
| • | 1 dose of varicella vaccine | |
| • | 2 to 3 doses of influenza vaccine (for those ages 6 months and older; number of doses depends on child’s birthday) | |
Side effects can occur with any medicine, including vaccines. Depending on the vaccine, these can include: slight fever, rash or soreness at the site of injection. Slight discomfort is normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Your health care provider can give you additional information.
Yes, but serious reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. The risks of serious disease from not vaccinating are far greater than the risks of serious reaction to a vaccination.
If you think your child is experiencing a persistent or severe reaction, call your doctor or get the child to a doctor right away. Write down what happened and the date and time it happened. Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call (800) 338-2382 to file this form yourself.
Children younger than 5 are especially susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. By immunizing on time (by age 2), you can protect your child from disease and also protect others at school or day care.
A vaccination health record helps you and your health care provider keep your child's vaccinations on schedule. If you move or change providers, having an accurate record might prevent your child from repeating vaccinations he has already had. A shot record should be started when your child receives his first vaccination and updated with each vaccination visit.
A federal program called Vaccines for Children provides free vaccines to eligible children, including those without health insurance coverage, all those who are enrolled in Medicaid, American Indians and Alaskan natives.
Call the National Immunization Information Hotline at (800) 232-4636. Questions about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases frequently asked by people calling the TTY Service Hotline can be viewed in American Sign Language at (888) 232-6348 (TTY hotline), www.vaccines.ashastd.org/ttyservice.htm
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/fs/gen/shouldknow.htm