Every year, during the last week of April, World Immunization Week is celebrated across the globe. The goal of the World Health Organization’s annual campaign for 2019 is “Vaccines work: We are protected together.” Immunizations protect people of all ages from all kinds of preventable diseases and save millions of lives each year. Even with the 116.2 million children who received vaccinations in 2017, 1 in 10 children worldwide doesn’t have access to life-saving immunizations.
Vaccines are critical to a child’s health and well-being and vaccines prevent harmful diseases. We are fortunate that medical research has led to the development of vaccinations to protect the health and welfare of individuals. In fact, Dr. Carrier-Kinsley discussed the Mumps outbreak impacting Pennsylvania and even the Jenkintown area on Fox 29 news. To view the interview, click here.
Here are a few things you can do to observe World Immunization Week:
- Make sure you and your family receive all available vaccines on time
- Talk with your pediatrician about a vaccine schedule that works for your children
- Know before you go–If you’re traveling outside of the U.S. make sure you check for required vaccinations for your family
What is a Vaccine?
Vaccines protect your children from deadly diseases such as polio, measles, tetanus, and diphtheria. Immunizations contain a weakened or dead version of the germ that causes a certain disease. When the vaccine is administered, your child is exposed to the dead or weakened form of the disease and their immune system builds up antibodies that protect them in the even they were to come in contact with a live version of the disease.
Having your children vaccinated also helps protect children who are unable to receive certain vaccinations due to health concerns such as a weakened immune system.
Vaccines are Proven to be Safe
Although vaccines have been a controversial topic over the last several years, there has been no evidence that vaccines cause harm. It is possible that a child could experience an adverse reaction from receiving a vaccine, but it’s important to realize that the lifesaving benefits of vaccines far outweigh the possible side effects.
Keeping Track of Your Child’s Immunizations
Below is PCG’s immunization schedule:
Birth: Hepatitis B
Within 1 Week :None*
1 Month: Hepatitis B
2 Months: Dtap, Hib, Ipv, Prevnar, Rotavirus
4 Months: Dtap, Hib, Ipv, Prevnar, Rotavirus
6 Months: Dtap, Hib, Ipv, Prevnar, Rotavirus
9 Months:Hepatitis B
12 Months:Varicella, Hib, Prevnar,Hepatitis A, Mmr
15 Months: None*
18 Months: Dtap, Hepatitis A
24 Months:None*
3 Years : None*
4 To 6 Years (Yearly): Dtap, Ipv, Mmr, Varicella
7 To 10 Years (Yearly): None*
11 Years: Tdap, Menactra, Hpv**
16 Years(Yearly): Menactra
Flu shots are given seasonally to children > 6 months. Please bring your child’s immunization record to each visit. If your child has any abnormal reaction to a vaccine, please call the office.
*No immunizations are given unless the child is delayed with their vaccines.
**For children between 11-23 years of age. Series of 3 injections.
There are a lot of vaccines to keep track of, but doing so is easy. Your child’s pediatrician can provide you with a record of all of the vaccinations they received at their office. Keeping an updated vaccination is important and you may need it for things such as school registration, sports, and travel.
If you have any questions about vaccinations and the life-saving benefits they can provide your child, set up an appointment with your pediatrician at Pediatric Care Group today!