Childhood immunizations are one of the most important ways parents can protect children from serious diseases and keep them healthy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children receive all of the following vaccines:
Hepatitis A and
hepatitis B vaccines to help protect against serious liver diseases.
Rotavirus vaccine to help protect against the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children. Rotavirus is the most common cause of hospitalizations in young infants due to vomiting, diarrhea, and
dehydration.
DTaP and
Tdap vaccines to help protect against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough).
Hib vaccine to help protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b (a cause of spinal meningitis).
Pneumococcal vaccine to help protect against bacterial meningitis and infections of the blood.
Polio vaccine to help protect against a crippling viral disease that can cause paralysis.
Influenza vaccine to help protect against influenza (flu). This vaccine is recommended for all people beginning at 6 months and older
MMR vaccine to help protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles), all highly contagious and potentially very serious diseases.
Varicella vaccine to help protect against chickenpox and its many complications including flesh-eating strep, staph toxic shock, and encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain).
Meningococcal vaccine to help protect against very serious bacterial diseases that affect the blood, brain, and spinal cord.
HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine to prevent viral infections in teens and adults that cause cancers of the mouth and throat, cervix, and genitals.
Remember
Vaccines prevent diseases and save lives. It’s important to follow the schedule recommended by the AAP. Contact your child’s doctor if you have any questions.
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