Childhood Immunizations

Immunization Schedule

This is a current schedule of immunization; however, new recommendations can occur. The science of immunizing our children is a rapidly changing field. For this and many other reasons, it is important to maintain your child’s complete physical exam schedule.

What are the Immunizations?

DTaP/Tdap
Diphtheria: A severe throat infection with potential complications involving the heart and lungs.

Tetanus: Otherwise known as lock-jaw. It is a life-threatening infection involving the nervous system and muscles.

Pertussis: Otherwise known as whooping cough, a severe infection of the lungs and bronchial tree. Now given in an “acellular” form.

IPV
Injectible Polio Vaccine: This virus can cause muscle paralysis.

MMR
Measles: Known for its rash, this disease can also cause brain damage.

Mumps: In young children, the illness causes swollen salivary glands. Can cause sterility in adult males.

Rubella: An innocent illness in young children, it can cause birth defects if a mother gets the disease while pregnant.

HIB
Hemophilus Influenza Type B: Causes meningitis, pneumonia, and life-threatening throat infections. Not to be confused with influenza or the flu.

HEP-A
Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause abdominal pain, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice. Rarely can it lead to more serious liver disease especially in the elderly.

HEP-B
Hepatitis B is a serious disease. It is not to be confused with Hepatitis A which is a more innocent form of hepatitis. Hepatitis B is caused by a particular virus which is transmitted to a person by infected blood products or bodily fluids, by sexual contact with an infected partner, and by infected mothers to their newborns. The American Academy of Pediatrics has made the recommendation to immunize all infants, and to do catch-up immunizations of all older children, especially adolescents, in the hope that this disease will not pose the risk that it does now.

HPV
Human Papillomavirus is a genital virus that causes cervical cancer and genital warts. There is no effective treatment for the virus once it is contracted. However, the HPV can prevent most genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine must be given before the onset of sexual activity and is recommended for all girls beginning at age eleven and twelve.
 
Pneumococcus
This bacterium causes a variety of respiratory infections and ear infections. It also causes meningitis and other serious infections. Children under 2 are most susceptible.

Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhea, mostly in babies and young children. It is often accompanied by vomiting and fever. Rotavirus vaccine is an oral vaccine; it is not given by injection. This is not the same vaccine that was given in the late 1990’s and is not associated with intussusception, an unusual type of bowel obstruction.

Varicella
This is the name of the virus that causes chicken pox. It greatly reduces a child’s risk of contracting the disease and its complications.

Other Vaccines
Influenza (Flu)
Influenza is the name of the virus family that causes the flu. The vaccine only gives protection against one specific virus. The flu vaccine is now recommended for children ages 6 months to 24 months. Older children with special health problems should get the flu vaccine.

Meningococcus
This bacterium can cause a serious form of meningitis. Occasionally, colleges will suffer outbreaks of the disease. You may consider this immunization for your 11-18 year old if he or she is going to college and will live in the dormitory or other school housing.

Traveling Abroad
If you are planning to travel abroad, notify our office at least two months prior to your departure. Travel to some countries puts visitors at risk for serious infections, and these risks will be lessened by appropriate and timely vaccinations or medicines.