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Vaccines
Vaccines & Immunizations
Vaccines and how they prevent Diseases Babies and kids grow very fast. They grow so fast that many things can happen. Problems can develop quickly too which is why your baby needs to be seen by a doctor 2 to 14 days after birth and then again almost monthly until he is 1 year old. At each routine visit to your doctor your baby will probably also get a immunization shot. These are very important for the health of your child. Kids and babies need to get these shot on time. A delay may lead to a serious illness. Immunizations protect your baby and kids from serious diseases which can even be fatal. Life without Immunizations During the 1950's, without vaccines, polio crippled or killed many kids. Diphtheria killed at least 10,000 Americans yearly including thousands of children during the 1920’s. Some of those who survived were paralyzed or had heart problems after. Until today, Diphtheria kills people in areas where there is little or no immunizations available. During the 1960’s before there was a vaccine for measles, more than half a million Americans, mostly kids, got measles which led to breathing problems and many had other complications. These are just a few of the infections that immunizations can prevent and are today these illnesses are rarely heard of thanks to the benefits of Vaccines and Immunizations. How Immunizations work Immunizations work by getting your immune system to provide protection before you get sick. Before you get sick from a certain disease, you are given a vaccine that contains a tiny bit of bacteria or virus which you want to protect your body from. Example, to protect from the measles you get a vaccine which will have a small piece of the measles virus. This will be enough to make your body immune to future attacks of the measles but no enough to make you sick. Your body will then produce antibodies when it gets the vaccine and will do the same thing when it gets attacked by the measles in the future. All children aged 6 to 59 months should receive influenza vaccine every year. So should children of any age with conditions like asthma, diabetes, HIV, hearing problems, sickle cell and other serious conditions. Ask your doctor if your child needs a flu shot. Click here for a list of shots and when your baby and kids should get them. Some vaccinations must be given more than once to have total protection from a disease. These are called booster shots. Some of them are combined like the MMR shot ( Measles, Mumps and Rubella shot, DTap shot protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertusis. 1 ) Hepatitis A Vaccine ( Liver Infection ) The Hepatitis A vaccine prevents a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. As many as 200,000 Americans get sick with Hepa A each year and about 30% are kids younger than 14 years old. Most people recover completely, but the illness keeps people out of school and work by causing fever, stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, yellow skin and eyes ("jaundice"), and exhaustion. Children aged 6 years and younger usually have very mild symptoms. About 20% of people with hepatitis A need to be in the hospital for a few days. Hepatitis A can cause complete liver failure, and this causes about 100 deaths in the United States each year. How do you catch Hepa A ? The virus that causes hepatitis A is found in bowel movements. It is spread by contact with people who do not wash after using the toilet or by eating food prepared by an infected person. The hepatitis A virus is sometimes spread in day care centers from one infected baby to another if caregivers don't wash after diaper changes. Who should get the vaccine? The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all babies and children aged 12 to 23 months. This is one of the vaccines that must be given twice to be fully effective. If you have an older child or teenager who has not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, ask your doctor about getting the immunization. Who should not get the vaccine? Anyone who had a bad reaction to another hepatitis A shot should not receive this vaccine. The schedule Children should receive two hepatitis A immunizations between 12 and 23 months of age. They should be spaced at least 6 2 ) Hepatitis B Vaccine ( Liver Infection ) What is it? The hepatitis B vaccine prevents a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Each year many people in the United States get sick with this virus. The illness causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, and yellow skin and eyes. Once the short-term illness is over, some people who are infected with the hepatitis B virus suffer liver damage or even liver cancer. As many as 5,000 people in the USA die each year as a result of hepatitis B. How do you get Hepa B ? People get the hepatitis B virus by coming into contact with the body fluids of people who have the infection. Many people with hepatitis B don't know Who should get the vaccine? Who should not get the vaccine? The schedule - The first immunization is given shortly after birth, usually before the baby and mother leave the hospital. The second is given at least 4 weeks after the first one, and a third one is given between 6 months and 18 months of age. If you have teenagers who did not receive the hepatitis B vaccine when they were younger, ask your doctor what to do. Side effects - Mild reactions, like soreness at the injection site and a small fever, occur in less than 1 in 10 children. In very rare cases, a serious allergic reaction occurs within minutes or an hour or two after immunization. 3 ) DTap Vaccine ( Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis ) What is Diphtheria ? Diphtheria starts with a fever, chills and sore throat. Then a thick membrane develops in the back of the throat. This coating is very thick that it can cause breathing problems. The diphtheria bacteria also make a poison that spreads throughout the body, which can cause paralysis, heart failure, or even death. Fortunately, immunization has virtually eliminated diphtheria in the United States. How do you get it ? Diphtheria is spread the same way as colds through sneezing and coughing. What is Tetanus ? Tetanus occurs when bacteria found in soil enter the skin through a cut or wound. Tetanus is also called lockjaw. When the bacteria release their poison into the How do you get it ? Many people who develop tetanus have had accidents in the yard or garden. Common sources of the infection are garden soil, dust, and animal manure. What is Pertussis ? Pertussis is caused by bacteria that causes irritation and swelling in the tubes and lungs. Someone with pertussis has long, episodes of violent coughing. When all the air is gone from the lungs, the child must gasp for air and makes a loud "whooping" sound. Then the cough cycle starts again. The child may get so little air that he turns blue. Or he may vomit or have a seizure. Small children may develop pneumonia as a result of having pertussis. The cough can last for weeks to months. Serious complications are most common in infants in the first months of life, who often need to be hospitalized. How do you get it ? Pertussis is very contagious and is spread by coughing and sneezing. It is more common than we think and affects teens and adults, who in turn can transmit it to vulnerable infants and children who have not been fully vaccinated. About 10% of adolescents and adults with a cough that persists for 2 to 3 weeks have pertussis. 4 ) Who should receive the DTap vaccine ? The vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and Who should not get the vaccine? DTaP is not given anyone who had a severe allergic reaction to it in the past. Other signs of trouble after a previous DTaP immunization The schedule - The DTaP series is given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with one booster at 15 to 18 months, and another at 4 to 6 years. All five shots are essential. And, as mentioned, a booster is also recommended at age 11 to 12 years. What are the side effects ? Most children have minor reactions to this vaccine. Children may have a mild fever afterward, or have some soreness or redness at the injection site. Such reactions are more common after the fourth or fifth dose. One child in 1,000 may cry for several hours after the shot, while only one in about 15,000 has seizures. For every 5 ) Haemophilus Influenzae type B Vaccine ( HiB Bacteria ) Hib disease is caused by bacteria known as Haemophilus influenzae type b. This is a dangerous germ that can cause inflammation and swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). It can also cause inflammation of the throat (epiglottitis) that can lead to choking and death. The Hib vaccine became available in the 1980s. Before that time, about 20,000 children, mostly preschoolers, were infected each year, and about 1,000 of them died. Those who survived sometimes had permanent brain damage or deafness. Despite its name, Hib is not related to the flu, or influenza. How do you get it ? Hib disease is spread person to person through respiratory secretions. Who should get the vaccine? All infants and young children should be vaccinated against this dangerous, potentially life-threatening infection. Who should not get the vaccine? The Hib vaccine is not given to children younger than 6 weeks of age. It should also be avoided if a child had a bad reaction to the shot in the past. The schedule Three or four doses of Hib vaccine (depending on the type) are recommended for babies during the first 15 months of life. Side effects - Very few children have side effects with the Hib vaccine. Some may get a red, swollen, or sore spot at the injection site, but this goes away in a few days. Others may have a mild fever that lasts for a short time. A serious allergic reaction is even more unusual. 6 ) Polio Vaccine ( IPV virus ) What is Polio ? Polio is caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. In some people, the infection causes no symptoms. Others have symptoms that are just like a cold or stomach virus. But for some people, polio causes permanent paralysis of leg muscles or the muscles that control breathing. The virus can also cause meningitis. The disease can be fatal. Fortunately, most of us have never seen a child How do you get it? The polio virus enters the body through the mouth.Although no cases have occurred in the US for years, just one infected person visiting from another country 7 ) MMR ( Measles, Mumps and Rubela ) Vaccine What is Measles ? Measles is caused by a virus and produces a severe red, bumpy rash along with cough, fever, diarrhea, and cold like symptoms. In some people, measles may also lead to pneumonia, brain damage (including seizures), and even death. What is Mumps ? Mumps is caused by a virus that causes an infection of the What is Rubella ? Rubella, better known as German measles, is caused by a Who should get the vaccine? The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is usually given as a triple vaccine, called MMR. All children need to be immunized against these three diseases. As a result, they occur very rarely in American children. Most of those who do develop measles were infected while living or traveling in other parts of the world. Who should not get the vaccine? A child who has had an allergic reaction to the MMR vaccine before, or who is allergic to certain antibiotics, may not be a good candidate Side effects - MMR is much safer than the infections it protects against. Millions of children have taken MMR since it first became available. The most common side effect is a slight fever, which affects about 1 in 6 children. A mild rash is less common. A seizure occurs in about 1 of every 3,000 children who get the vaccine. Less than 1 in one million children who receive the MMR have a serious allergic reaction. 8 ) Do Vaccines & Immunizations Work ? If you look at the table below you can see that each disease has decreased
9 ) Pneumococcal ( Prevnar ) Vaccine Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacteria. Before the vaccine was available, the disease caused blood infections in more than 15,000 American preschoolers each year. Hundreds of these children ended up with meningitis, an inflammation of the covering of the brain, and several hundred died. Pneumococcal bacteria can also cause pneumonia. Almost half of ear infections, about 5 million are also caused by this bacteria. Prevnar website How do you get it ? The bacteria is spread through the air, and children catch this infection in much the same way they catch colds. Children younger than 5 years of age are more likely than older ones to get pneumococcal disease. Children whose spleens have been removed and those with conditions such as sicklecell disease and HIV infection are also more likely to become infected. Who should get the vaccine ? The pneumococcal vaccine prevents pneumococcal disease, and a series of four immunizations should be given to all babies by 15 months of age. In addition, the vaccine may be given to children aged 2 to 5 years if they have another condition that makes it more likely that they will get a serious or life threatening Who should not get the vaccine ? If your child had a life-threatening reaction to an earlier dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, tell your doctor. He or she will determine 10 ) Varicella ( Chickenpox ) Vaccine Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. If you had chickenpox as a child, you probably remember the blistering, itchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads. Most children also have a fever and experience fatigue with chickenpox. Until the chickenpox vaccine became available in the early 1990s, about 4 million cases of chickenpox occurred every year. That number is How do you get it ? The chickenpox virus is quite contagious and is usually spread by coughing or sneezing. The liquid inside the blisters can also spread the infection. Side effects - Most children have no reactions to the varicella vaccine. About 20% of young children may have some soreness or swelling at the site of the injection. Many fewer 11 ) Meningococcal Vaccine Meningococcal disease includes a number of serious infec- How do you get it ? The most common ways this deadly infection is transmitted include sharing drinking glasses or bottles, and sneezing and coughing. Anyone can become infected, but the illness is most common in children less than 2 years of age. Who should get the vaccine ? Recently developed meningococcal vaccine is Who should not get the vaccine ? Make sure your doctor knows if your child has ever had a severe reaction to another vaccine of this kind or if your child has had a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Side effects - About 50% of the children who receve the MCV4 vaccine have someredness and soreness at the injection site. This lasts only a day or two. Fever develops in fewer people. Rarely does someone have a seizure. 12 ) Rotavirus Vaccine Rotavirus causes a illness in young kids and babies. The How do you get it ? Rotavirus is very contagious. Large amounts of the virus are spread in the stool of sick children, so you might be exposed when changing a sick baby's diapers, for example. The virus often lives on hands, surfaces (like toilet seats), or objects (like toys) and can be spread when someone comes in contact with the contaminated area. A child who is infected with the virus can even spread rotavirus before getting sick with diarrhea or vomiting. There are many different types of rotavirus, just as there are many different types of cold viruses. As a result, people can get rotavirus illness several times, but the first illness is usually the most severe. Who should not get the vaccine? Some children should not receive the chickenpox vaccine, including those who have had problems with it in the past or are allergic to certain antibiotics. Children with HIV infection or cancer and those taking steroid medication may not be able to receive the vaccine either. Be sure your doctor is aware of all of your child's medical conditions before the shot is given. Side effects - Side effects after immunization include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, runny nose and sore throat, wheezing or coughing, and ear infection. Call your doctor right away if your child gets severe belly pain, vomiting, or bloody diarrhea after the vaccination. This is very unlikely. You may have heard of another vaccine against rotavirus infection that was available several years ago but then was taken off the market. This is not the same vaccine. The old vaccine caused a very rare kind of bowel obstruction. Studies in more than 70,000 young children have determined that the new vaccine does not cause bowel obstruction or other serious side effects. 13 ) Normal Reactions to Vaccination After your child receives an injection, it is not unusual for some redness, swelling or soreness to happen at the area where the injection was given. This usually disappears within a few days. Your child may also develop a slight fever after being vaccinated. Your doctor may suggest that the child take a pain reliever and fever reducer, such as acetaminophen, when going home and later again that evening. Be sure to let your doctor know about any reactions your child has to a vaccine. 14) What is Influenza ? Influenza, or the flu, is caused by a virus. Symptoms include a fever, usually very high, extreme tiredness, muscle ache, headache, dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Possible complications include pneumonia and seizures. Children may also develop ear infections and sinus problems. Unlike adults, children may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Each year, more than 190,000 Americans need to be hospitalized because of the flu, and about 34,000 people die of this infection. Children younger than age 2 years and adults over age 64 are more likely than other people to need hospitalization because of influenza. The influenza viruses that circulate are slightly different each year, so people who want to avoid the flu need a new shot each year. How do you get the flu ? The droplets that come out of your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze are the major way that the virus spreads. A person begins spreading the virus about a day before symptoms develop and for 5 days or so after the illness starts (up to 10 days for children). Who should receive it ? Immunization with the vaccine given by injection is recommended for all children 6 months to 59 months of age. In addition, any person of any age 6 months and older who has asthma, a chronic heart or lung condition, diabetes, a kidney condition, or a weakened immune system should also get the vaccine. Any child on long-term aspirin therapy should also be immunized against influenza. Who should not receive the vaccine? Children who have an allergy to eggs or products containing eggs, or who had a severe reaction to a previous influenza immunization, should not receive the vaccine. Your doctor may decide against giving the vaccine or may take special precautions. The vaccine is not given to babies younger than 6 months of age or to children with a moderate or severe illness accompanied by fever. Side effects - The most common side effects are soreness, redness, or swelling at the spot where the shot was given, a low fever, and achiness. These pass quickly for most people. 15) What is HPV ? Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The virus infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of men and women, including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and rectum. You cannot see HPV. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it. Most people with HPV do not develop symptoms or health problems. But sometimes, certain types of HPV can cause genital warts in men and women. Other HPV types can cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause cancer. HPV types are often referred to as “low-risk” (wart-causing) or “high-risk” (cancer-causing), based on whether they put a person at risk for cancer. In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system clears the HPV infection naturally within two years. This is true of both high-risk and low-risk types. GARDASIL is a vaccine (injection/shot) that helps protect against the following diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Types in the vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18): GARDASIL helps prevent these diseases – but it will not treat them. If you already have Human Papillomavirus you may benefit from GARDASIL because most people are not infected with all four types of HPV contained in the vaccine. In clinical trials, individuals with current or past infection with one or more vaccine-related HPV types prior to vaccination were protected from disease caused by the remaining vaccine
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