Today's Headlines

Immunizations are very important for the health of your child. Most of your child's immunizations will be given before his or her second birthday. These will help prevent ten major diseases. These illnesses are polio, measels, mumps, chickenpox, rubella, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus (HIB) infections and hepatitis B.

DTaP or DTP Vaccines- at two months your child should recieve her first DTaP or DTP vaccine immunizing her against diptheria, tetanus and either acellular pertussis or whole cell pertussis. She will get this vaccine five times the first three at two, four and six months. A fourth dose will be given six to twelve months after the third dose usually around 18 months. Your child should recieve another shot before she enters school, between four and six years. This shot raises your child's immunity against these diseases to higher levels.
Within the first 24 hours after the shot, your baby may be fussy and tired. The area where the vaccine was injected may be sensitive and red and she may have developed a low grade feaver. (Less than 102 degrees Fahrenheit) These reactions are normal and shouldn't last longer than 48 hours. They can be treated with acetaminophen given every four hours. Do not give your baby aspirin.

Your pediatrician should be contacted if your child is crying for more than three hours, has unusual high- pitched crying, sleeping more or is difficult to wake, limpness or paleness, has a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, is having convulsions usually associated with a high feaver. There is less than 1 percent chance that your child could have any of these side effects. You should also alert your pediatrician if your child is allergic to eggs. Eggs are used in the process of manufacturing the vaccine. If your child is taking a medication that interferes with the immune system or her immune system is weakened for any reason she should not recieve the MMR vaccine.

Chickenpox Vacine- A vaccine to protect against chickenpox is recommended for all healthy children between the ages of 12-18 months.

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine (Hib)- A vaccine against bacterial infections caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenza type b is recommended for children beginning at two months.

Hepatitis B Vaccine- Hepatitis B is a viral illness that affects the liver. It can occur at any age, including newborns. It can be passed from mother to infant at the time of birth or from one household member to another. Infants and young children who contract the disease and have mold to no symptoms until sometime later when they may develop chronic liver problems including cancer. This vaccine is given in three doses beginning shortly after birth. The second dose is given one or two months later and another is given at about eighteen months.

Click on the links below for more resources on immunizations, your child's health and baby's development.


Your Baby's First Year- One Stop Sourse of Parenting Information. Now you can face the first days with your newborn with confidence! If you are like most expectant parents, you can't wait for your new bundle of joy to arrive. But how do you know what to do once your baby has arrived?




The Merck Manual of Children's Health


WHAT ARE RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS AND IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU MISS IMMUNIZATIONS- In the Purple Medical Blog




Was this information useful? If not scroll up and search Google. Don't forget to leave a comment!


My Technorati Tags
Immunization schedule immunizations vaccines booster shots shots chickenpox polio MMR vaccine Hib Hepatitis B