Immunization
Immunizations are a very effective means for prevention of serious infectious diseases, many of them fatal. Through time many new vaccines have been developed, increasing the number of serious infections that can be prevented. This has also added complexity to the schedule. Please read on to learn more about the currently recommended vaccines.
Complete 2008 Immunization Schedule from AAP [0-6 years old]
Complete 2008 Immunization Schedule from AAP [7+ years old]
Immunizations
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP & Tdap) vaccine
VIS (Vaccine information Sheet)
Whooping cough is a very dangerous disease, especially for infants. The risk of suffering and death caused by whooping cough is far greater than the possible side effects of the vaccine. A child who has not been immunized against pertussis has a chance of 1 in 3000 of getting whooping cough. In contrast, a child who got the vaccine has a chance of 1 in 2 million of having neurological damage with the vaccine. The risk of children getting pertussis increases if fewer children are immunized. Just added in 2005 is a new tetanus booster (Tdap) that replaces the old teenage tetanus booster which now contains protection against the pertussis bacteria (whooping cough).
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
Recent outbreaks of measles in high schools and colleges have made it necessary for children to have 2 MMR vaccines. They should have the first shot when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old. These diseases are nearly gone from the U.S. However, they will come back if children are not fully vaccinated.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacteria that causes several life-threatening diseases in young children (such as meningitis, epiglottises, and pneumonia). Before the vaccine was available, over 10,000 children in the U.S. developed haemophilus meningitis each year. About 500 of them died and 3800 became mentally retarded, blind, or deaf, or got cerebral palsy as a result of the disease. Because of the vaccine, haemophilus influenzae type B is now uncommon in the U.S. The Hib vaccine does not protect against respiratory flu (influenza) and meningitis caused by viruses.
Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B)
Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents this type of hepatitis and the severe liver damage that can occur 20 or 30 years after a person is first infected. More than 5000 adults die each year in the U.S. from hepatitis-related liver cancer or cirrhosis. The younger the age when the infection occurs, the greater the risk of serious problems.
If you have an older child who was not vaccinated against hepatitis B as an infant, ask your doctor whether he or she should have the shots. Your child needs a total of 3 hepatitis B shots.
Polio vaccine
The polio vaccine protects children from this now rare but crippling disease. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is now recommended for all polio doses.
Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine
The chickenpox vaccine is usually given between the ages of 12 and 18 months, but it can be given to older children if they have not had the vaccine or the disease yet. Children age 13 or older should get 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart.
This vaccine is 70% to 90% effective in preventing chickenpox. If vaccinated children get chickenpox, they have a much milder form of the disease. By being vaccinated, you can reduce the chance of missed work and school, skin infections, medical costs, and getting shingles later in life.
Pneumococcal (PCV7) vaccine
Pneumococcal infections are serious bacterial infections that may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis. The PCV7 vaccine protects against the 7 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause most of these serious diseases. The vaccine also prevents a small percentage of ear infections caused by pneumococci.
Routine use of PCV7 is recommended for all infants and toddlers less than 2 years old. Some children (up to age 5) who have a serious illness may benefit from the vaccine.
Hepatitis A vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for children and adolescents in selected states and regions, and for certain people at high-risk. Talk to your health care provider or local public health department for more information.
Influenza vaccine
Healthy children age 6 to 23 months are recommended to get the influenza vaccine because they are at a greater risk of getting severely ill or needing to go to the hospital because of the flu. The influenza vaccine is also recommended each year for children ages 6 months and older if they have certain medical risk factors. The vaccine can also be given to anyone wanting immunity. Talk to your health care provider for more information.
Meningococcal vaccine VIS
Because meningococcal disease is more common in college students, this vaccine should be offered to college freshman before starting school and should also be available at the student health center. Just added in 2005 is new conjugated form of the vaccine that causes protective antibodies that persist much longer than older form of the vaccine. For this reason it is now recommended routinely for all children over age 11-18 years. Click here for more information.
Rotavirus vaccine VIS
The newest vaccine in the schedule is the rotavirus oral vaccine. Rotavirus is a viral cause of severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is not the only cause of viral stomach infections but it is the most severe. The use of the vaccine will reduce infections caused by rotavirus that often result in hospitalization and prolonged illness. Our clinic began offering this vaccine in April of 2008.
This is recommended for infants only. There is no catch-up recommended.
Other vaccinations required for international travel
There are many additional vaccines that are recommended for travel to certain countries that are not part of the routine vaccination schedule. The standard resource is the CDC travel information. A local resource for travel and vaccination services is Salem Hospital (call 503-561-5544 for more information)
Further Information
- Other reliable immunization site at immunize.org
- Chapter from Dr. Offit’s book: “Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know” regarding vaccine myths
- Vaccinate Your Baby
- What to expect guide to immunizaitons from publisher of What to Expect When You Are Expecting
- More information about pertussis including what whooping cough SOUNDS like.
- Vaccine Education Center web site at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia
- Summary of Current Information regarding lack of scientific link between MMR vaccine and autism (CDC)
What if we stop vaccinating?
- What if we stopped vaccinating? (from CDC)
- What if you don’t immunize? (from immunize.org)
