What Are The Types Of Vacinations Every Child Should Have

The main goal of a vaccination is to prevent diseases in children. Vaccines use part of the organisms that cause the disease to promote antibodies against them. Vaccinations/Immunizations are recommended by the U.S government for nearly all children. A vaccine basically helps to prevent disease, by helping the body build up antibodies. Vaccines not only help keep children healthy, but they also help children by eliminating the threat of contracting serious childhood diseases, such as mumps, polio, influenza, chicken pox and measles.

Contrary to some beliefs vaccinations are not dangerous. They a generally quite safe and have a very small risk for causing any serious problems. In fact, the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the risks. Vaccines have made many serious childhood diseases like measles, small pox and polio rare in today’s world.

True some vaccines do have side effects but they are generally quite mild, with the side effects being only temporary. Some side effects include;

• fever, and/or
• soreness or a lump is formed where the shot was given

Your doctor will inform you about the possible side effects with certain vaccines that you need to be aware of.

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is an injection that is usually administered at the beginning of the flu season, usually in October or November. Your child cannot get the flu from the vaccine as the vaccine only contains flu viruses that are dead. As the flu viruses change on a yearly basis, it is very important that your child to get a flu shot every year so that he/she is protected. This vaccine is safe to use in children 6 months and older. If your child is between 6 and 23 months, it is especially important for him/her to get the flu vaccine, as children in this age group are more likely to have complications from the flu.

DTaP Vaccine

The DTaP vaccine is 3 vaccines in 1 shot that is given to safeguard against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. It is a series of 5 shots. Diphtheria is a disease that attacks the throat and heart, and can lead to heart failure and even death especially in children. Tetanus also known as lockjaw, can lead to severe muscle spasms and death. Pertussis also known as whooping cough, causes severe coughing making it hard to breathe, eat and drink. It is a fatal disease that can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, and brain damage as well. Getting a CTaP vaccine protects your child against these diseases for about 10 years, after which time booster shots are required.

Td Vaccine

The Td vaccine is a booster shot of the DTaP vaccine. It helps prevent tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria. It is given to a child 11 years old and older and every 10 years all the way through life.

IPV Vaccine

This vaccine prevents against polio and is given in four injections. The IPV or inactivated poliovirus vaccine is a new vaccine that has replaced the older polio vaccine which was given as oral drops. Polio is a deadly and sometimes fatal disease that can cause muscle pain and paralysis of both legs and arms. It can also paralyze the muscles used to breathe and swallow.

MMR Vaccine

The MMR vaccine protects your child against measles, mumps and rubella, and is given as two shots. The measles usually causes fever, rash, cough, a runny nose and watery eyes, but can also lead to ear infections and pneumonia in children. In serious cases measles can also lead to brain swelling and even death.

Mumps cause fever, headaches and painful swelling of the saliva glands. It can lead to meningitis, which in itself is a serious disease that infects the outer layer of the brain and spinal cord. In rare cases the mumps can cause the testicles of young boys or men to swell, which can make them impotent.

Rubella is also called German measles, and it causes a slight fever, rash and swelling of the neck glands. Rubella can also cause brain swelling or bleeding problems. If a pregnant woman gets rubella, it can cause her to miscarry her baby or have a baby who is blind, deaf, or has trouble learning. Children should have their first MMR shot when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second one when they are 4 to 6 years old.

Hib Vaccine

The Hib vaccine helps prevent Haemophilus influenza type b, which is a leading cause of serious illness in children. It can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and a severe throat infection. This vaccine is given as a series of 3 or 4 shots.

Varicella Vaccine

The varicella vaccine prevents against chickenpox. It is given to children once after they turn one year old or is given to older children if they have never had chickenpox or have been vaccinated. Booster shots may be given if found necessary.

HBV Vaccine

The HBV vaccine prevents against the hepatitis B virus, which causes liver infection that can lead to liver cancer and death. This vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects against a type of bacteria that causes ear infections. This bacteria can also cause other serious illnesses like meningitis and infection in the blood stream of the blood stream called bacterium. Infants and toddlers are given this vaccine in 4 doses. The vaccine may also be used in older children who are at risk for pneumococcal infection.

It is recommendations that children be vaccinated from time to time. Vaccinations usually start when your child is 2 months and most are finished by the age of 6.