Immunization Recommendations for Children

Vaccines help protect your child from many diseases. These diseases can cause serious health problems, including life-threatening illnesses, lasting disabilities, and brain damage. Some even cause death.

Children under age 2 are at special risk. They're more likely than older children to become very ill or disabled from a disease. That's why it's so important to vaccinate on time.

See also:

Immunization Schedule for Children

Preparing for Your Child's Vaccinations


Children Should Be Vaccinated Against...


Disease

How Spread

Symptoms

Possible Risks

*Given to people who have not had the disease

You may want to consider giving your child an influenza shot if he or she is:

  • On long-term aspirin therapy.

  • Age 6 months thru 8 years (2 shots their first year, given 1 month apart).

Chickenpox

Spread through coughs and sneezes, and by direct contact.

Fever, fatigue, rash.

Skin infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, Reye's syndrome (affects the flood, liver and brain), death.

Diphtheria

Spread through coughs and sneezes.

Sore throat, coupled with fever and chills.

Difficulty breathing, paralysis, heart failure, death.

Hepatitis A

Usually spread by the stool-to-mouth route. This most often occurs through contact with other people, but people may also get it from contaminated food or water.

Fever, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, yellow skin and eyes, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and dark urine.

Severity of illness increases with age, but complete recovery without further complications is likely.

Hepatitis B

Spread through blood, saliva, semen and other body fluids.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, yellow skin and eyes, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and dark urine.

Liver disease, liver cancer, death.

Hib Disease

Spread by coughs and sneezes.

Fever, fatigue, vomiting, stiff neck.

Pneumonia, throat infection, brain damage, meningitis, death.

Measles

Spread through coughs and sneezes.

Rash, runny nose, red watery eyes, cough, and fever.

Pneumonia, convulsions, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), death.

Mumps

Spread through coughs and sneezes.

Fever, headache, swollen cheeks and jaw, and swollen glands.

Painful swelling of the testicles and ovaries, encephalitis, meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord), deafness.

Pertussis
(Wooping cough)

Spread through coughs and sneezes.

Severe coughing followed by a "whooping" sound.

Pneumonia, difficulty breathing, convulsions, brain damage, death.

Polio

Spread through saliva and feces.

Fever, headache, stomachache, stiff muscles

Paralysis, difficulty breathing, death.

Rubella
(German measles)

Spread through coughs and sneezes.

Rash, mild fever, swollen glands.

Pregnant women may have a miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies may bew born deaf or blind, or with heart defects or brain damage.

Tetanus
(Lockjaw)

Enters the body through an open wound.

Headache, fever, irritability, stiff muscles.

Difficulty swallowing and breathing, severe muscle spasms, death.
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Immunization Schedule for Children

As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  CHILD'S AGE

  VACCINE

Birth - 2 months

Hep B #1

1 - 4 months

Hep B #2

2 months

DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), IPV (polio), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate)

4 months

DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV

6 months

DTaP, Hib, PCV

6 - 18 months

Hep B #3, IPV

12 - 15 months

Hib, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), PCV

12 - 18 months

Var (chickenpox)

15 - 18 months

DTaP

24 months - 18 years

Hep A (in selected areas)

Before starting school
  (4 - 6 years)

MMR, DTaP, IPV

11- 12 years

MMR (if your child has not had the MMR shots), Var (if your child has not had the chickenpox shot and has never had chickenpox), Hep B (if your child has not had the hepatitis B shots)

11 - 18 years

Td (tetanus, diphtheria)
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Preparing for Your Child's Vaccinations

Before your child is vaccinated

  • Ask for a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS).

  • Go over your child's medical history.

Tell your child's health care provider about any special health conditions

  • A history of convulsions.

  • A weakened immune system (for example, due to HIV infection, AIDS or certain types of cancer)

  • Any severe allergies.

  • Negative reactions to previous vaccines.

  • A current illness.

Know what side effects to look for

  • Slight fever (less than 102 degrees F).

  • Soreness or swelling at the injection site.

  • Headache.

  • Swollen glands.

  • Irritability.

  • If symptoms last for more than 24 hours, call your child's health care provider.

Know when to get help

There is a very small chance that your child could have a serious reaction to a vaccine.
Be alert for symptoms such as:

  • Constant crying for more than 3 hours.

  • Unusual, high-pitched crying.

  • Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking up.

  • A high fever (105 degrees F or higher).

  • Convulsions.

  • Allergic reaction (signs include hives, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, weakness, dizziness, and fast heartbeat).

  • Limpness or unresponsiveness.

  • Paleness or bluish skin.