Immunizations
Our practice follows the CDC guidelines for childhood immunizations. We currently offer the following immunizations in our practice. Some children should not be immunized. If you have any questions about the immunizations contact your health care professional.
DTaP Diptheria, Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccine
What are these diseases?
- Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death.
- Tetanus (Lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough) causes coughing spells so bad that it is hard for infants to eat, drink or breathe. These spells can last for weeks. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring spells), brain damage, and death.
Children receive this immunization at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15-18 months
- 4-6 years
Polio Vaccine
What is the disease?
Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child’s (or adults) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). It can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe. Polio used to be very common in the United States. It paralyzed and killed thousands of people a year before we had a vaccine for it.
Children receive this immunization at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6-18 months
- 4-6 years
Hepatitis B Vaccine
What is the disease?
Hepatitis B is a a serious disease. The hepatitis B virus can cause short-term (acute) illness that leads to: loss of appetite, tiredness, diarrhea and vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), pain in muscles, joints, and stomach.
It can also cause long-term (chronic) illness that leads to: liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, & death.
Hepatitis B vaccine is the first anti-cancer vaccine because it can prevent a form of liver cancer.
Children generally receive this immunization at: (their may be a slight change in schedule if mother is infected with the virus) For more information
- Birth
- 1-4 months
- 6-18 months
Haemophilus Influenzae (HIB) Vaccine
What is the disease?
Haemophilus influenzae type b otherwise know as HIB is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years old.
Your child can get HIB disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. If the germ stays in the child’s nose and throat he may not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then HIB can cause serious problems.
Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial memingitis amoung children under 5 years old in the USA. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings, which can lead to lasting brain damage and deafness. The Hib disease can also cause: pneumonia, sever swelling in the throat, infections of the blood, joints, bones and covering of the heart and death.
Before the vaccine nearly 1,000 people died from the disease.
Children generally receive this immunization at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months*
- 12-15 months
- Depending on what brand of vaccine is used, your child might not need the dose at 6 months of age. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if this dose is needed.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
What is the disease?
Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause serious illness and death. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain. Invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for about 200 deaths each year among children under 5 years old. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States. It can lead to to other health problems, including: pneumonia, deafness, brain damage. Children under 2 years old are at highest risk for the disease.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can help prevent serious pneumococcal disease, such as meningitis and blood infections. It can also prevent some ear infections. But ear infections have many causes, and pneumococcal vaccine is effective against only some of them.
Children generally receive this immunization at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12-15 months
Children who weren’t vaccinated at these ages can still get the vaccine. The number of doses needed depends on the child’s age. Ask your health care provider for details.
Chickenpox Vaccine
What is the disease?
Chickenpox (also called Varicella) is a common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults.
The chickenpox virus can be spread from person to person through the air, or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters. It causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. About 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the US. About 100 people die each year in the US as a result of chickenpox.
Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who get the vaccine will not get the chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.
Children generally receive this immunization if they have not had the disease at:
- 12-18 months
People who do not get the vaccine until 13 years of age or older should get doses 4-8 weeks apart.
Ask you doctor for more details.
MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
What are these diseases?
Measles virus can causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), brain damage, and death.
Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and rarely death.
Rubella (German Measles) is viral and causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
The virus is spread from person to person through the air.
Children generally receive this immunization at:
- 12-18 months
- 4-6 years
Hepatitis A Vaccine
What is the disease?
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found n the stool of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing HAV.
Hepatitis A can cause mild flu like illness, jaundice, & severe stomach pains and diarrhea. People with hepatitis A often have to be hospitalized. Sometimes people die as a result of hepatitis A. A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others within the same household.
Children generally receive this immunization as a 2 dose series at:
- 12-23 months
- 6 months later
TDaP Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis Vaccine
TDaP protects adolescents against the three serious diseases. See DTaP for the disease information. Immunity can fade over time and periodic “booster” doses are needed by adolescents and adults to keep immunity strong.
TDaP is the first vaccine for adolescents and adults that protects against all three diseases.
Children generally receive this immunization at:
- 11-12 years