There may be nothing more important than maintaining your child’s health.
Pediatric care includes a lot of important medical appointments for your child such as exams and also immunizations. However, sometimes a slew of misinformation can cause parents to delay or outright prevent their children from getting vaccinated.
As mentioned in our last blog, vaccinations are incredibly important for building one’s immunity to common infectious diseases. Even though recent efforts by anti-vaxxing campaigns have tried to circulate myths about vaccinations myths, a vaccine still remains the safest way to build immunity to diseases.
In addition, vaccinations are immensely critical to ensure that your child’s immune system can successfully defend against harmful conditions including measles, mumps, and tetanus.
But did you know that vaccinations are important for other reasons as well? A healthy and up-to-date vaccination history ensures your child is protected consistently from diseases. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explain how vaccinations help infants and young adults keep healthy and disease free!
Vaccines for infants and children under 6 begin bolstering the immune system
The CDC recommends getting vaccinations for children as young as infancy.
At birth, children may likely get a hepatitis vaccination and within their first year receive updated Hepatitis B vaccinations. In addition, children in their infancy receive updated vaccines for rotovirus, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, and measles just to name a few vaccination process for a child is highly important to ensure they are properly protected from other diseases.
As young children get older they require significantly more vaccinations including the MMR vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Vaccines for youth and teenagers are necessary and also help against increased infection risks.
After age 7, a child is likely to need many other vaccinations until they reach ages 13-18. These vaccinations include Tdap, HPV, and meningococcal vaccines until their vaccination history is up-to-par based on your doctor’s recommendations.
Even with updated vaccinations, teenagers may need updated vaccines if they have increased risk for infections. For example, a teenager with increased behavioral or hereditary risks for catching Hepatitis A or B may likely need a new vaccine.
However there are some multiple-use vaccinations that help teenagers stay disease-free. The flu shot for infants, teenagers, and adults alike help keep people healthy during peak flu season.
Vaccines are not something to take lightly when it comes to your child’s health. Make sure they are up to date ASAP!