2010 Immunization Schedule

Posted by Joyce Hoffmann on February 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

The most up-to-date immunization schedule (approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians) has been released.  There are three levels or categories of the schedule:  Children 0-6; Children 7-18; and a schedule should your child get started on immunizations late or fall behind.

Each year it gets more difficult to stay on top of vaccines and the administration of them.  With new vaccines being developed each year, the task becomes more and more challenging and complex.  In addition to newer vaccines, there are many vaccines that need multiple doses to reach their peak effectiveness or vaccines that need to be repeated whose “powers” wane over time.

For information on what changes there are to last year’s schedule, you can follow this link to the list published at the CDC website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Included in the description of changes is one regarding the inactivated poliovirus vaccine series.   It is now recommended that this vaccine be given after a child’s 4th birthday and at least six months from the previous shot.  If all four doses have been given before the child is 4, a fifth dose needs to be administered between the ages of four and six.

Also, be reminded that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires doctors or staff members to give copies of the Vaccine Information Statements to parents prior to giving their child the vaccination.

Make sure you familiarize yourself with this year’s schedule and check with your pediatrician should you have any further questions.

Filed under Articles for Parents, Immunizations and Vaccines · Tagged with ,

Immunization Information and Schedules

Posted by Joyce Hoffmann on December 8, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

Boy cringes receiving vaccine

Boy cringes receiving vaccine

Immunization of children has come under the gun of late for various reasons, including the belief (by some) that vaccines cause other health issues.

There are many questions that parents want answers to these days in relation to having their children immunized.  

Why so many? The answer to this is simple; because there are so many diseases that can now be prevented by vaccines.  In fact, there are 16 preventable diseases now that girls can be vaccinated against and 15 for boys.

Why so early? Moms provide antibodies to their unborn babies so they have a resistance to disease at birth.  However, by the age of six months, these antibodies are becoming ineffective.  Depending on how any one disease affects an infant or toddler at any given age will determine how soon a child needs to be vaccinated.  Diseases that are more serious for an infant than a toddler will be vaccinated against at a younger age.

Why not spread out the vaccinations? Because we are such a mobile society, pathogens are spread much more frequently and easily.  Postponement of vaccines on a child’s immunization schedule can leave that child susceptible to being infected and possibly contributing to an outbreak of diseases that, previously, have been controlled.

The annual immunization schedule is collaborated upon by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.  There are three schedules published on the AAP website:  0 – 6 years old; 7 – 18 years old; and an adjusted schedule in case you are behind on your immunizations by more than one month.

The website for the American Academy of Pediatrics is an amazing resource on so many topics, including immunizations.  If you want to read and understand more about the safety of immunization and, more specifically, thimerosal in MMR vaccines, this site can provide information on relevant studies.  Another terrific resource at this site is a selection of audio interviews on vaccines, as well as parent questions, from experts in the medical field.

When it comes to our children, it’s vitally important to be well-informed and be your own best advocate for them.  For further information on vaccinating your child, visit VaccinateYourBaby.org.

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