In this Article

• Why do we need vaccines?
• How do vaccines work?
• What childhood vaccines are recommended, and at what ages they should be given?
• What if your child misses a shot?
• What are the vaccine-preventable diseases?
• Childhood Vaccination Schedule Index

What if your child misses a shot?

For most vaccines, it is never too late to catch up on missed shots. Children who missed their first shots at 2 months of age can start later. Children who have gotten some of their shots and then fallen behind schedule can catch up without having to start over. If you have children who were not immunized when they were infants, or who have gotten behind schedule, contact your doctor or the health department clinic. They will help you get your children up to date on their immunizations.

(NOTE: Don't postpone your child's immunizations just because you know he or she can catch up later. Every month a child goes without scheduled immunizations is a month that the child is not fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.)

Combination vaccines

A combination vaccine is more than one vaccine contained in a single shot. Doctors and parents both like them because they allow a child to get several vaccines at once without having to get as many injections. Several combination vaccines are already in use (for example, MMR, DTaP, Hib/HepB, DTaP/IPV/HepB), and more are under development.

Vaccination checklist

Rarely, a child should wait before getting certain vaccines, or should not get them at all. Tell your doctor or nurse if any of these apply to your child on a day when an immunization visit is scheduled.

1. Is your child sick today? (More than a common cold, earache, etc.)
2. Does your child have any severe (life-threatening) allergies?
3. Has your child ever had a severe reaction after a vaccination?
4. Does your child have a weakened immune system (because of diseases such as cancer or medications such as steroids)?
5. Has your child received a transfusion or any other blood product recently?
6. Has your child ever had convulsions or any kind of nervous system problem?

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Gardasil (HPV Vaccine) - Gardasil HPV vaccine (recombinant human papillomavirus quadrivalent vaccine) drug class, prescription, injection, preparation, storage, dosage, drug interaction, pregnancy and nursing, and side effects information.
• Flu Vaccine - Get the facts about influenza vaccine (flu shot) ingredients, side effects and vaccination effectiveness. Learn who should (children, pregnant women, elderly) and shouldn't get a flu shot.
• Hepatitis B - Read about hepatitis B, a virus spread through infected blood or body secretions (blood, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk, and saliva). Symptoms, diagnosis, and treamtent information is included in the article.

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