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Infants
Vaccines
in General
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What you should
know about your baby’s vaccinations
Vaccinations during the
early childhood are an important safeguard against serious illnesses
for your baby. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend that all
children get vaccines against ten different diseases during the first
two years.
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Hepatitis B vaccine
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver
that’s caused by a virus and can result in liver damage or failure.
A baby can develop Hepatitis B if the mother is infected with it
before or during pregnancy. If the mom tests positive for Hepatitis B
or her status is unknown, the baby may be given the vaccine already
in the hospital right after birth. If the vaccine is not
given in the hospital, it should be given
within the first 2 months. Two additional dosages are also
recommended within the first 18 months.
Diphtheria,
tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
This vaccine protects against three
diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis or whooping cough:
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Diphtheria is a
serious infectious disease caused by bacteria that produce toxins
that inflame the nervous system and heart. The disease can result
in heart failure and paralysis.
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Tetanus results from
bacteria that grow in wounds and that produce a toxin that
affects the nervous system and causes muscle spasms and
paralysis, especially in the jaw area. It’s also called
lockjaw.
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Pertussis or whooping
cough, another infectious disease caused by bacteria, is
especially dangerous for babies under one years old. It’s most
well-known symptom is a debilitating racking cough.
Although this vaccine has
previously been available in several forms, in 1997 the American
Academy of Pediatrics began recommending the DTaP vaccine as the
preferred form because it is less likely to cause a reaction in baby.
The DTaP vaccine includes diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular (rather
than whole cell) pertussis vaccines. The vaccine should be given in
five dosages at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, around 18 months, and
before your child enters school, between 4 and 6 years of age. A
sixth dose of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine is recommended between
11 and 16 years of age.
Your baby may have a mild
reaction to this vaccine including a slight fever (under 102 degrees
F), fussiness, and redness in the thigh area where the shot is given.
These symptoms typically last up to 2 days and your doctor may
suggest giving your child acetaminophen to ease the fever.
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Haemophilus
influenzae type B (HIB) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type B
isn’t the viral infection that is commonly known as the flu.
Instead, it’s a fast-moving bacterial infection that can cause the
baby to have ear and bronchial infections. HIB also can lead to
meningitis in children under two years old. Tt is important that your
child is protected with three dosages of the HIB vaccine during the
first year—at age 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. Experts also
recommend that a fourth dosage be given between 12 and 16 months of
age.
Polio vaccine
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a
serious viral disease that starts with a fever and can lead to
paralysis, muscle atrophy, and permanent disability. In its most
severe forms, polio can cause death. Polio vaccine comes in two
forms, IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) which is given by injection
and OPV (oral polio vaccine) which is given by mouth. In 2000 the
American Academy of Pediatrics began recommending the IPV form of the
vaccine as the preferred form. The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends giving the vaccine at 2 months and 4 months, between 12
and 19 months, and between 4 and 6 years of age.
Measles, Mumps, and
Rubella (MMR)
This vaccine provides coverage for three
diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella or German measles:
• Measles is a viral infection that causes distinctive red spots
and is characterized by cold-like symptoms and a high fever.
• Mumps is an infectious viral disease that results in swelling of
the parotid gland that’s just in front of the ear and the salivary
glands. The swelling can occur on the sides of one or both cheeks.
Mumps usually is accompanied by a fever and pain when the patient
opens her mouth or eats.
• Rubella or German measles is similar to measles in that it’s a
viral infection that results in a fever, swollen glands, and a rash.
The first MMR vaccine is
usually given when the baby is between 12 and 16 months and seldom
has any serious side effects. However, some babies may be more sleepy
than usual and have a mild rash, slight fever, or slight swelling in
the neck or diaper area. The second shot is recommended between 4 and
6 years of age.
Varicella vaccine
This vaccine protects against chickenpox,
a viral infection which is highly contagious and results in a
blisterlike rash that’s very itchy. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that all children receive the varicella vaccine
between the ages of 12 and 19 months.
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This
information is excerpted from the book Vaccinating Your Child:
Questions and Answers for the Concerned Parent (Peachtree
Publishers, Ltd., 2000). The book's authors are Dr. Sharon G.
Humiston, a pediatrician and clinical researcher at the CDC and the
University of Rochester, and Cynthia Good, an award-winning
journalist and host of the television show "Good for
Parents".
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