Which diseases does my child receive vaccinations against?
The immunization program
recommends the following vaccines for your child from birth on. Keep in mind
that most public schools will not permit you to enroll your child if he hasn’t
been immunized.
Hep B (at birth, two months and six-18 months)
This protects agains hepatitis
B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis. Symptoms include loss of
appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, and jaundice
DTaP (at two, four, six and 15-18 months)
This protects against diphtheria,
tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough).
Diptheria is an acute,
potentially fatal infectious disease that’s still common in developing
countries. Tetanus is a disease that affects the central nervous system and
muscles, and causes breathing problems. It’s caused when germs found in soil
and manure enter the body through cuts and burns. Pertussis (whooping cough)
can be serious for babies under 12 months but older children aren’t as badly
affected. It can last for as long as 10 weeks, and causes extended bouts of
coughing and related breathing difficulties.
PCV (at two, four, six and 12-15 months)
This protects against
pneumococcal disease, which can result in meningitis, pneumonia and ear
infections. The airborne bacteria that causes pneumococcal disease kills more
people each year than all the other vaccine-preventable diseases combined –
including around 200 children.
Hib (at two, four, six and 12-15 months)
This used to be a leading cause
of meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain) among under-5s: one
in four was left with brain damage and one in 20 died. It’s spread by airborne
bacteria and up to 60 percent of serious cases occur in babies under 12 months
old, usually because they haven’t been immunized.
Polio (at two, four and six-18 months; also four-six years)
Polio was once a dreaded
childhood disease but since the polio vaccine was developed in 1955 the disease
has been all but eradicated from the US. However it is still common in other
parts of the world and can cause paralysis.
Rota (at two, four and six months)
This oral vaccine protects
against rotavirus, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and fever.
MMR (at 12-15 months; also four-six years)
This protects agains measles,
mumps and rubella, which can be serious diseases. Measles can lead to ear
infections, pneumonia and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can
lead to convulsions, and can leave your child deaf or mentally retarded. One to
tow of every 1000 children who catch measles die from it and it cn also cause
miscarraige and stillbirth if contracted during pregnancy. Mumps is generally
mild but rarely it can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and deafness. Rubella
is also mild but can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects if
contracted in pregnancy – if a woman has rubella in the first three months of
pregnancy there is an 80 percent chance her baby will be born with birth defects
which can include blindness, deafness and mental retardation.
Varicella (at 12-15 months)
This protects against chicken
pox, which is one of the most common childhood diseases. It spreads very easily
through the air and is usually mild but rarely complications (including
encephalitis) can occur. Of every 100,000 babies under 12 months who get
chickenpox around four die. For children up to 14 years old, around one in
100,000 dies. If a woman gets chicken pox just before or after giving birth her
baby can get very sick and around one in three dies if not treated quickly.
Hep A (at 12-23 months; two shots at least six months apart)
This protects against the virus
that causes hepatitis A. It’s easily spread because it’s carried in feces and
can be transferred onto a child’s hands. It’s also present in contaminated food
and water. Often there are no symptoms, but it may cause fatigue, nausea,
vomiting and jaundice. Although there is no treatment, most children do recover
although severe cases can result in liver damage and possibly hepatitis.
Influenza (at six months+ during influenza season)
This protects against flu, which
can cause serious complications in babies and young children (20,000 under-5s
are hospitalized due to flu each year in the US). It’s particularly important
for children with diabetes, a suppressed immune system, or asthma and other
lung or heart problems
See
the MMR debate for help deciding whether to
give your child the MMR jab.
•
The Centers for Disease Control vaccines section (www.cdc.gov/vaccines)
has information on school and state immunization requirements.
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 13/06/2008