IMMUNITY
When you get an infection, your body produces disease-fighting substances called antibodies. These antibodies usually stay in your body even after the illness has gone, and protect you from getting the same disease again.
SHOTS
Immunizations are also called shots or vaccines and can produce immunity. Vaccines are injected into the body to protect against disease. Most shots need to be given several times to provide protection.
CHILDREN
Children can get very dangerous diseases that can be prevented by shots. Very young children are at the most risk, so you need to immunize your children early. Your child should receive immunizations at birth, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12- 15 months, and soon after the 4th birthday.
VACCINE SAFETY
Most of the time vaccines work well. Reactions to shots do occur, but they are usually mild. It is important to remember that the risk of disease is much greater than the risk of the shot. These are very serious diseases.
IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
Your doctor or public health clinic will keep a record of your child's shots and will also give you a record. If you do not receive one, be sure to ask. Your doctor or clinic will be happy to provide you with a Personal Immunization Card. It is very important that you keep this record of your child's shots. Bring the card with you when you take your child to the doctor, hospital, or public clinic and make sure the doctor or nurse signs and dates the card any time a shot is given. If you go to more than one doctor or clinic you may have the only complete record of your child's shots. You will need this record to enroll your child in day care and/or school. After your child gets shots be sure you have made an appointment for his or her next visit.
Disease Information
HEPATITIS B VACCINE (HBV)
Hepatitis B is an infection that causes liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. The younger people are when infected with Hepatitis B, the more they are likely to develop liver disease. The first shot to protect your baby against this disease should be given at birth.
DIPHTHERIA TETANUS ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS VACCINE (DTaP)
DTaP vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis. Diphtheria enters the body through the nose or mouth. The disease develops in the throat. It can interfere with swallowing, may cause breathing problems, and can damage the heart and nerves. About 1 person in 10 who gets diphtheria dies of it. Tetanus, or lockjaw, is caused by germs that enter the body through a wound. Tetanus germs produce a poison that attacks the body's nerves. Painful spasms occur and about 3 out of 10 Tetanus victims die. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is spread through coughing or sneezing. Pertussis cause "coughing fits" with a high pitched "whooping" sound. The infection can damage the lungs and cause seizures. About 3,500 cases of pertussis occurs in the United States each year. Half of the cases that occur, occur in children under one year of age.
POLIO VACCINE (IPV)
Polio is a contagious disease that can cause permanent paralysis and death. Polio cases are rare in the United States today, but thousands of cases occur each year in other parts of the world. Without shots, Polio would return.
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA TYPE B VACCINE (HIB)
Hib vaccine protects your child against Haemophilus influenza type b, often called Hib disease. Hib disease occurs most often in children under 5. In the past, about 1 child in every 200 caught Hib disease. Of these children, approximately 12,000 develop Meningitis, an inflammation of the covering of the brain, and 4,000 suffer permanent brain damage.
MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA VACCINE (MMR)
MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles is a very contagious disease that can be dangerous. One or two children in every 1,000 who catch measles die of it. Measles can cause damage to the lungs and to the brain. There have been many cases of measles in the last decade because many parents forget to get shots for their children. Measles spreads very fast, and children who have not had their MMR Vaccine are at high risk. Mumps is a common childhood disease that causes swelling of the cheeks and pain in the ears. In some cases, Mumps causes permanent deafness. Children not given mumps vaccine are likely to catch the disease. Rubella, or German measles, is most dangerous to unborn children. If a woman gets rubella while she's pregnant, her baby can be retarded or deformed. We immunize children so they won't give this disease to pregnant women.
VARICELLA VACCINE (Chickenpox)
Varicella vaccine protects your child against chickenpox. Chickenpox is caused by a virus that enters the body through the nose and mouth. The incubation period is about 10-21 days. Chickenpox usually affects children of school age but can occur at any age. It is more serious in teenagers and adults. Late winter and early spring is when most cases occur. Women who catch chickenpox early in pregnancy are more likely to have babies with birth defects. An infected person is very contagious from 1-2 days before rash appears until 5 days after the blisters appeared.
PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE (PCV-7)
Pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacterial meningitis (an infection of the brain), which causes about 200 deaths a year in children in the United States. Children under 2 years of age are at the highest risk for serious disease, including meningitis, blood infections, and ear infections. The disease is spread through close personal contact with someone who has it. All children under 2 years of age, and certain children under 5 years of age should be vaccinated with Pneumococcal vaccine. |
