What are immunizations?
Immunizations protect children and adults from a variety of potentially life threatening diseases. Vaccines stimulate a child’s immune system to react as if there were a real infection. This reaction allows the body to defend itself and remembers the infection.
If it returns later in life, the body has the tools it needs to kill the infection quickly.
What types of diseases are children vaccinated against?
Currently, children are vaccinated against 11 different diseases including:
- Diptheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Haemophilus Influenza Type B
- Strep Pneumonia
- Chickenpox
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
Can vaccinations be combined?
There has been progress in combining multiple vaccines into one injection. Combining vaccines lets us minimize the number of shots for the child. The formulation has to be just right so the combination is as effective as giving the vaccines separately.
Why should I vaccinate my child against diseases we don’t see in the US?
The reason we don’t see these diseases is because we do vaccinate against them. In some countries, diseases such as measles and mumps are still prevalent causing more than 1 million deaths per year.
What are the risks?
There is very little risk associated with childhood immunizations. It is much riskier NOT to immunize your child.
The most common side effects include:
- Redness
- Tenderness or swelling at the injection site
- Some may have a fever and rash
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