Vaccinations: Not Just for Kids
Vaccinations have been developed
against more than 20 infectious diseases. Scientists use vaccines
to "trick" the human immune system into producing antibodies
or immune cells that protect against disease-causing organisms.
Thanks to scientists
and vaccines, diseases like whooping cough, rubella,
typhoid fever, and the plague have been eliminated.
But keeping up with
your child’s vaccinations can be confusing. To add to
the confusion, medical developments have made changes over time.
You should not automatically use the shots you received as a
child as the rule for your own children.
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 The
Basics
- Vaccinations
are also referred to as immunizations or inoculations.
- Consult
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Immunization
Schedule to see what shots your child needs to
get, and when.
- As you
read the Schedule, take note that some shots must be given
more than once. For example, the Hepatitis
B vaccine is administered at birth, plus two
additional times before your child reaches 18 months of age.
- Some
vaccines, like the one for diphtheria,
tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) are given in combination.
Five doses of DTaP vaccine are needed between the ages of
2 months and 4-6 years.
- Children
in high risk regions or states may require additional shots,
such as the one for Hepatitis A. Contact your state
health department for more information.
- Failure
to keep immunizations up to date could result in your child
not being able to attend school. Each state has different
vaccination
requirements.
- Your
child may feel fussy from pain or fever after getting his
or her shots. There are things
you can do to reduce the pain. Watch out for
unusual reactions, like a high temperature.
- Be proactive
and informed about what shots your child should receive. Ask
your child’s doctor or pediatrician questions if you
don’t think your child is getting all he or she needs.
- Keep
your own record of what shots your child received
and when. You may need this record if you change doctors,
or as a back up in case something happens to the doctor’s
files.
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Vaccinations for Adults
- Some "booster shots," like the one for tetanus and diphtheria, are recommended every ten years.
- Older people and others are
at higher risk for medical complications from influenza and
should receive an annual flu
shot.
- Travel to certain foreign countries
may require special vaccines, such as the one for yellow fever.
- Adults who have not had chicken
pox should get the varicella or chicken pox vaccine.
- Additional vaccinations are
recommended for adults with certain
medical conditions, such as diabetes.
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In the News
- Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) recently caused
alarm all over the world. At this time, there is no vaccine
for SARS. The World Health Organization predicts that it could
take over a year to develop one.
- Because of side effects, the
Smallpox
vaccine is not recommended for everyone. Right
now, it is being administered to certain disaster "first responders,"
such as health care workers, police officers, firefighters,
and emergency medical workers.
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Other Resources
This is just a brief overview.
For more information on vaccinations, check out these resources:
Read
these publications online:
Websites*:
* Names of resources and
organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only,
and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Savvy Consumer
Information Center or any Government agency. Also, if a particular
resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it
is unsatisfactory.
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