A vaccination schedule is like a roadmap that guides you on when your child should receive certain vaccines and which ones they need. These vaccines are crucial for shielding children from dangerous illnesses. They work by introducing a weakened version of a germ to the body, allowing it to learn how to fight off the real thing effectively.
While government agencies offer recommendations on vaccines, it’s important to note that getting vaccinated is not mandatory. However, various state laws require children to have specific vaccines before attending daycare, school, or college, with a few exceptions. Vaccines not only protect your child but also contribute to community immunity. The more people who are vaccinated, the harder it becomes for a disease to spread.
Vaccination schedule: Before a vaccine is added to the schedule, it undergoes extensive testing over several years to ensure its effectiveness and safety. Government agencies closely monitor reports of any side effects to promptly address any concerns.
Now, let’s break down some of the vaccines included in the schedule and the diseases they guard against:
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Protects against the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver damage. The vaccine is typically administered in a series of three doses.
- Rotavirus Vaccine: Shields against the leading cause of diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in babies. Following the vaccination schedule, it’s usually given in two doses.
- DTaP Vaccine: This combination vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). It’s administered in a series of five doses, starting at 2 months of age.
- Hib Vaccine: Guards against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), which can lead to severe infections of the brain and spinal cord. It’s given in four doses.
- Pneumococcal Vaccine: Protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes meningitis, pneumonia, and certain ear infections. This vaccine is administered in four doses.
- Polio Vaccine: Prevents polio, a disease that can cause paralysis. It’s given in four doses.
- MMR Vaccine: This combination vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. It’s administered in two doses.
- Varicella Vaccine: Shields against chickenpox, which can lead to various complications. It’s given in two doses.
- Hepatitis A Vaccine: Protects against hepatitis A, a severe liver disease. It’s administered in two doses.
- HPV Vaccine: Guards against human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer and other cancers. It’s recommended for children aged 11 to 12.
- Influenza Vaccine: Recommended annually for everyone aged 6 months and older.
It’s essential to consult your child’s doctor if you have any concerns or questions about vaccines and the vaccination Schedule. Your doctor can provide you with information about each vaccine to help you make informed decisions regarding your child’s health.
| RECOMMENDED VACCINE | VACCINATION SCHEDULE | SHIELDS AGAINST |
| DTaP | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months Dose 4: Between ages 15 months and 18 months Dose 5: Between ages 4 years and 6 years | Diphtheria, which can lead to heart muscle swelling, heart failure, coma, paralysis, and deathTetanus, which can lead to painful muscle spasms, trouble breathing, and deathPertussis, which can cause pneumonia, seizures, and death |
| Influenza | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 23 months Extra dose 2: 6 months to 18 months after first dose Catch-up series for those ages 2 years and older who have not already completed the HepA series. Two doses may be given, separated by at least 6 months. | Influenza(flu), which can cause pneumonia |
| HepA | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 23 months Dose 2: 6 months to 18 months after first dose Catch-up series for those ages 2 years and older who have not already completed the HepA series. Two doses may be given, separated by at least 6 months. | Hepatitis A, which can lead to liver failure |
| HepB | Dose 1: At birth Dose 2: Between ages 1 month and 2 months Dose 3: Between ages 6 months and 18 months Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received all three doses | Hepatitis B, which can lead to chronic liver infection, liver failure, or liver cancer |
| Hib | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months, if needed Dose 4:Booster between ages 12 months and 15 months Catch-up vaccine(s) after age 15 months, if needed | Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can lead to a life-threatening infection such as meningitis and epiglottitis, cognitive disability, pneumonia, and death |
| HPV | Doses 1-3 between ages 11 years and 12 years for both boys and girls Catch-up series between ages 13 years and 18 years if needed | Human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer in women and genital warts in both men and women |
| IPV | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: Between ages 6 months and 18 months Dose 4: Between ages 4 years and 6 years Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received all four doses | Polio, which can lead to paralysis and death |
| PCV13 | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months Dose 4: Between ages 12 months and 15 months Extra dose of PCV13 recommended for children ages 24 months through 71 months with certain health conditions. Extra dose is recommended for previously unvaccinated children with immune conditions ages 6 years through 18 years | Pneumococcus, which can lead to sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, blood infection, meningitis, and death |
| MCV4 | Dose between ages 11 years and 12 years, with a booster at age 16 years Catch-up dose between ages 13 years and 15 years, if needed, with a booster between ages 16 years and 18 years For children with high-risk conditions, a dose is recommended between ages 9 months and 10 years | Meningococcal disease, which can cause bacterial meningitis and lead to loss of limbs, disabilities, deafness, seizure, stroke, and death |
| MMR | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 15 months Dose 2: Between ages 4 years and 6 years Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not had both doses | Measles, which can lead to brain swelling, pneumonia, and death Mumps, which can lead to meningitis, brain swelling, inflammation of testes or ovaries, and deafness Rubella, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and birth defects when a woman is pregnant |
| RV | Dose 1: age 2 monthsDose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months, if needed, depending on the vaccine manufacturer of the previous doses | Rotavirus, which can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration |
| Tdap | Single dose recommended between ages 11 years and 12 years Catch-up dose between ages 7 years and 10 years if your child has not had all five doses of DTaPCheck whether additional dose is needed between ages 13 years and 18 years | Tetanus, which can lead to painful muscle spasms, breathing trouble, and death. Diphtheria, which can lead to heart muscle swelling, heart failure, coma, paralysis, and deathPertussis, which can cause pneumonia, seizures, and death |
| Varicella | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 15 months. Dose 2: Between ages 4 years and 6 years. Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received both doses | Chickenpox, which can lead to infected blisters, bleeding disorders, brain swelling, and pneumonia |
SOURCE:
American Academy of Pediatrics: “Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 Years.” “Protection from Rotavirus.” “Polio Vaccine: What You Need to Know.” “Movement: Birth to 3 Months.”
AboutKidsHealth: “Motor Development: The First Six Months.”
AboutKidsHealth: “Holding and Dressing Your Baby.”
American Academy of Pediatrics: “Car Safety Seats: Information for Families 2011.”
Nemours Foundation: “All About Sleep.”
webmd
CDC: “Vaccines for Your Children,” “State School and Childcare Vaccination Laws,” “Immunization Schedules,” “Measles,” “Mumps,” “Rubella,” “Hepatitis A,” “Meningococcal Disease,” “How Many Cancers Are Linked with HPV Each Year?” “Flu (Influenza).”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “Vaccines Protect Your Community,” “Vaccine Safety.”
KidsHealth.org: “Your Child’s Immunizations: Meningococcal Vaccines
