Got questions about childhood vaccines? Your friends at KidsStreet are here with answers to help you make informed decisions to keep your little one healthy.
Maybe you’ve seen the recommended schedule of vaccines for children, and now you have questions. That’s completely understandable! At first glance, the vaccine schedule looks overwhelming.
We’re here to break down the what, why, when, and safety of vaccines to arm you with the facts you need to maintain your kiddo’s good health.
What Are Vaccines?
Vaccines are medications designed to teach your child’s immune system how to fight against specific bacteria and viruses and the serious diseases they cause. When your child receives a vaccine, their immune system learns how to fight against that specific germ in case they are exposed to it again.
Many people use “vaccination” and “immunization” interchangeably. Here is how they differ:
- Vaccination refers to the act of receiving a vaccine with the goal of developing immunity.
- Immunization occurs once your child’s immune system has developed protection against a disease.
Most vaccines are given by injection. However, the rotavirus vaccine can be given orally, and some forms of the influenza vaccine can be given through a nasal spray.
Several types of vaccines work in different ways to teach your child’s immune system to fight against disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Some examples are:
- Conjugate vaccines use a part of a virus or bacteria and coat it with a sugar molecule to hide the virus. The sugar-coated germ is attached to a stronger protein, so when the immune system responds to the protein, it also learns to fight against the sugar-coated germ. Examples include the Haemophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
- Inactivated vaccines use a dead piece of a virus or bacteria, such as the hepatitis A and polio vaccines.
- Live-attenuated virus vaccines, such as measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccines, use a weakened form of a virus.
- mRNA vaccines, such as COVID-19, trigger an immune response from proteins found on the virus’s outer membrane.
- Recombinant vaccines use the gene that creates the protein for a virus or bacteria and place it in another cell’s gene. When the cell reproduces, it produces vaccine proteins that teach the immune system to recognize and fight against that protein in the future. An example is the hepatitis B vaccine.
- Subunit vaccines use a small piece of a virus or germ, which generates an immune response. An example is the acellular pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.
- Toxoid vaccines contain a toxin or chemical from a virus or bacteria, such as diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.
- Viral vector vaccines use a harmless virus to introduce instructions to the immune system on how to fight against a more harmful virus, such as the influenza vaccine.
Why are Vaccines Necessary?
Babies are born with an immature immune system and are at risk of developing many serious diseases when exposed to various bacteria and viruses. Vaccines teach your child’s immune system how to fight against potentially life-threatening diseases before exposure.
Vaccines have dramatically improved children’s health over the last 50 years. They are estimated to save 3 million lives worldwide yearly, or 150 million since 1974. Regular vaccination schedules have significantly reduced infant death rates from 10 percent 50 years ago to less than 3 percent today.
Vaccines are reducing the rate at which children become ill with serious diseases. When used worldwide, vaccines can eliminate diseases. Smallpox is an example of a disease that has been eliminated and no longer requires vaccination.
When Should My Child Get Vaccines?
We recommend that you follow the immunization schedule published by the CDC to fully protect your child’s health. The current schedule includes 16 vaccines, 12 of which start before your child’s second birthday.
Birth to One Month Vaccines
- Hepatitis B (HepB) – first dose administered 12 to 24 hours after birth
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – may be administered at two weeks if your baby is born between October and March. If your baby is born between April and September, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend this vaccine be given closer to fall when RSV is more common.
2-Month Vaccines
During your baby’s 2-month well-baby visit, they should receive:
- Hepatitis B (HepB) – second dose
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) – first dose
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – first dose
- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) – first dose
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15, PCV20) – first dose
- Rotavirus (RV) – first dose
4-Month Vaccines
At your little one’s 4-month well-baby visit, they should receive their second dose of all the first dose vaccines they received at their 2-month well-baby visit.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) – second dose
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – second dose
- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) – second dose
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15, PCV20) – second dose
- Rotavirus (RV) – second dose
6-Month Vaccines
Your baby’s 6-month visit should include the following vaccines:
- Influenza – first dose & then given annually during flu season
- Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP) – third dose
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – third dose
- Hepatitis B (HepB) – third dose
- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) – third dose
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15, PCV20) – third dose
- Rotavirus (RV) – third dose if your healthcare provider is using the 3-dose series
12- to 15-Month Vaccines
After your baby turns one, they should receive:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP) – fourth dose
- Hepatitis A (HepA) – first dose
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) – first dose
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15, PCV20) – fourth dose
- Varicella (VAR) – first dose
4- to 6-Year Vaccines
As your child is entering school, they should receive:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP) – fifth dose
- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) – fourth dose
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) – second dose
- Varicella (VAR) – second dose
11- to 12-Year Vaccines
Your little one gets a five-year break from vaccines, and then they should receive:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Meningococcal A – first dose
- Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster – first dose
16-Year Vaccines
Another four-year break from vaccines for your kiddo, and then they should receive:
- Meningococcal A – second dose
18-Year Vaccines
At 18 years old, your child should receive:
- Meningococcal B – 2 dose series one month or six months apart, depending on the brand your child’s healthcare provider uses.
When Should My Child NOT Get a Vaccine?
There are some rare instances when your child should not receive a vaccine.
- Allergies—You should talk to your child’s healthcare provider about any allergies your child has before they receive a vaccine. Some children with eggs, gelatin, latex, and yeast allergies may react to some vaccines. Allergy testing can often be completed to ensure it is safe to proceed with vaccines containing small amounts of these items so your child can be protected from harmful diseases.
- Anaphylaxis – If your child has ever had a severe reaction to a vaccine, such as difficulty breathing, hives, shock, or throat swelling, let your child’s healthcare provider know before they receive another vaccine. These reactions are extremely rare, occurring about once every one million vaccines.
- Illness – If your child is sick with an illness more severe than a cold on the day they are scheduled for a vaccine, talk with your child’s healthcare provider about whether the vaccine should be rescheduled until your little one is feeling better. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about any necessary modifications to your kiddo’s immunization schedule if your child has a chronic health condition such as:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- HIV
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease or
- Spleen removal
Are Vaccines Safe?
Yes! Vaccines administered in the United States undergo rigorous study and testing by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) before they can be approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Even after vaccines receive approval, the CDC continues to monitor their effectiveness and investigate any reports of adverse reactions to ensure vaccine safety.
The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), physicians committed to caring for infants, children, and adolescents, strongly recommends that all children be vaccinated on time according to the CDC immunization schedule.
The AAP, CDC, FDA, NIH, and other medical groups, such as infectious disease doctors, review the vaccine recommendations yearly.
Turn To KidsStreet Urgent Care
Is it time for a scheduled vaccine? Or does your kiddo need to catch up on their vaccines? KidsStreet Urgent Care can help!
Register online to visit the clinic. You and your child can wait in the convenience of your home or vehicle until we are ready to see you.
KidsStreet loves walk-ins too! However, we recommend registering online before your visit to reduce in-clinic wait times. Walk-ins join the same queue as those who register online.