Booster Basics

Understanding Immunizations for your Child

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There has been much debate lately about the importance of immunizations in this country. Over the last several years, many new vaccines have entered the market and have been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Practice, and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Recently, many families have voiced concern over the number of vaccines that children receive as well as the safety of those vaccines.

Currently, two, four, and six month old infants receive the DtaP, IPV, Hepatitis B, Hib, and Pneumococcal vaccines. All of these vaccines are made out of an inactivated “dead” virus or partial components of bacteria. These vaccines will not make the patient sick. The child may develop fever as a side effect of the administration of the vaccine, but he is not getting the actual illness that the vaccine is protecting him against. In combination, these vaccines protect infants against many diseases including whooping cough, pneumonia, meningitis and ear infections. Patients also receive the Rotavirus vaccine, which is a live virus. This live virus may give the patient a few more symptoms, but will not cause the rotavirus infection. This vaccine protects infants from severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

At one year of age, a child receives three additional vaccines: MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis A. The MMR and Varicella vaccines are made from live viruses; they can cause a mild rash and fever up to a week after the vaccination is given.

At four years of age, the child receives booster shots of MMR, Varicella, IPV and DtaP vaccines. Several new vaccines have been introduced for the adolescent child. At 11-12 years of age, pediatricians now offer three different vaccines. The DtaP booster protects children from both tetanus infection and whooping cough. This vaccine also protects young infants from pertussis because teenagers are often the carriers of this deadly disease.

Pediatricians now offer a meningococcal vaccine that protects teenagers from getting meningitis in high school and college. The HPV vaccine protects teenage girls and young adult women from contracting the virus that causes genital warts and ultimately cervical cancer.

Vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. The effectiveness of the United States vaccine program has caused many to forget the severity of these illnesses. These diseases can be deadly.

Many parents are now refusing immunizations due to their concern about the safety of vaccines. There has been a very active debate on whether the MMR vaccine causes autism. Multiple studies have shown no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. However, due to misinformation, many parents are confused by vaccine safety and are opting to not get their child immunized. As a result, measles, whooping cough, H. influenza meningitis and pneumonia have all reemerged in the United States. Recent outbreaks in California and Minnesota have sickened dozens of unimmunized children. At least one infant has died from a preventable disease.

Parents should gather as much information as possible from credible sources, including their pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics website, to help them make crucial decisions regarding their child’s health.

Spell It Out
DtaP diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis
IPV inactivated polio
Hib Haemophilus influenza type B
Pneumococcal Strep pneumonia
MMR measles, mumps, and rubella
Varicella chicken pox
Pertussis whooping cough
HPV human papilloma virus

Sources: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC.

by Shannon Herrick, M.D.

Shannon is a graduate of UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. She is currently a general pediatrician and assistant professor at Texas Tech Health Science Center at Amarillo. Shannon is married and has two children.

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