The Importance of Your Child's Immunization and Health Checkups

Immunization is one of the most cost-effective methods of preventing diseases. Every year, around 300 children and 42,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases. CDC emphasizes the role of parents in improving immunization rates. Every year, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) rolls out new information during August, the National Immunization Awareness Month.

A critical part of taking care of your baby and keeping him healthy is taking him/her to a pediatrician for check-ups and immunization. The doctor measures and weighs your baby to ensure that he is growing at a healthy rate. During this check-up, your doctor will also check your baby's hearing and eyesight.

Thanks to advances in medical science, immunizations can help you save your child's life as your child stays protected against diseases. Because of vaccinations, there are no reports of polio in the U.S. Children feel a little discomfort when a doctor or nurse administers a vaccine. In rare cases, there can be some serious side effects of the vaccination, such as an allergic reaction. However, the disease-prevention benefits of vaccines are much greater than the side effects.

Your pediatrician should check your when he is:

• Two months old
• Four months old
• Six months old
• Nine months old
• Fifteen months old

Make sure your baby gets the following shots within his first fifteen months.

• DTaP: For protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
• Hep B: For protection against this serious liver disease
• Hib: For protection against Haemophilus influenza type b
• Polio: The polio vaccine is given as a shot for protection against the disease
• MMR: For protection against mumps, measles, and rubella
• Chickenpox: Varicella-zoster vaccine for protection against chickenpox

Here is the schedule you should follow for your child.

At Birth

• Hepatitis B

At two months

• IVP - Inactivated Polio vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• DTaP - Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
• Rotavirus vaccine
• HIB - Haemophilus influenza Type B
• Hepatitis B

At four months

• DTaP
• HIB
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• IVP

At six months

• Pneumococcal vaccine
• HIB
• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus vaccine
• DTaP
• IVP
• Influenza vaccine

At 12 months

• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Hepatitis A
• MMR - Measles, Mumps, Rubella

At 15 months

• HIB
• Varicella
• DTaP

At 18 months

• Hepatitis A

Between 4 to 6 years of age

• IVP
• MMR
• Varicella
• DTaP

At 11 years

• HPV (human papilloma vaccine)
• Tdap
• Meningococcal vaccine

In some cases, additional vaccines are needed for children at high risk. The best person who can recommend vaccines for your growing child is his/her pediatrician. Your family doctor can also recommend a revised vaccination schedule for parents who may miss an important vaccine.

Final Thoughts

Vaccines are successfully reducing and eliminating diseases that once resulted in disabilities or even deaths. For instance, smallpox vaccination eradicated the disease worldwide. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure your children get immunized at the right time. You can also get in touch with your local health department that gives shots to children or get in touch with your pediatrician.