Immunizations for Children and Teens

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Protect Your Familys Health With Immunizations

• Immunizations for Children and Teens

Developed By Barbara (Bobbi) Clarke, PhD,
RD Professor, Extension Health Specialist and
Co-director for The University of Tennessee
Center for Community-based Health Initiatives
Updated 12/03
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How Many Shots Does My Child Need and When?

• 11 vaccine-preventable diseases
• Total of 24 doses of 7 different vaccines
• Most delivered by injection (shots)
• Most given between birth and age 2
• Booster shots are needed for some
  diseasesbetween ages of 4 and 6, and again
  between ages 11 and 12

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Why Do Children Need So Many Shots?
11 potentially serious vaccine-preventable
diseases

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus (lockjaw)
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib Disease causes
  bacterial meningitis and other bacterial diseases
  like pneumonia)
• Hepatitis B

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella (German Measles)
• Pneumococcal Disease
• Polio
• Varicella (Chickenpox)

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How Serious Are These Diseases?

• Can cause pneumonia, choking, brain damage, heart
  problems, crippling, liver cancer and blindness.
  
• Any of them can kill a child.

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Why Are So Many Vaccines Given at Such a Young
Age?

• The diseases can strike at a very young age.
• Some diseases are far more serious or common
  among babies and young children.

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Why Should I Follow an Immunizations Schedule?

• Immunizations work best when given at certain
  ages.
• Routine immunization schedule is based on
  recommendations by experts.

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How to Read the Immunization Schedule
This chart is based on the Immunization schedule
recommended by CDC, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family
Physicians.
Recommended in selected areas for children over 2
years of age.
http//www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/
pgapp1-sched.pdf
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What Happens if Your Child Misses a Shot?

• Can catch up on missed shots
• Not safe to postpone shots unless child is sick
• Most are given by age 2

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What Happens if Your Child Misses a Shot?
(continued)

• Without the vaccine, your child is not protected
  from a specific disease.
• Talk to your doctor or health department nurse
  about how to get your child up-to-date on his/her
  immunizations.

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Key Points About Each Vaccine

• DTaP Protects against diphtheria (severe
  infection of the throat and respiratory tract),
  tetanus (a serious neurological disorder that may
  occur from a contaminated wound, also called
  lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough).

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Key Points About Each Vaccine
(continued)

• Hib Protects against Haemophilus influenzae
  type b (a bacteria that causes meningitis,
  pneumonia and skin and throat infections).
• Hep B Protects against hepatitis B (liver
  infection).

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Key Points About Each Vaccine
(continued)

• IPV Protects against polio (a virus that
  attacks the spinal nerves, causing paralysis).
• MMR Protects against measles, mumps and rubella
  (viral infections characterized by rashes, fever,
  and potentially serious side effects such as
  heart damage, pneumonia, infertility, and birth
  defects when pregnant women are infected).

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Key Points About Each Vaccine

• PCV7 Protects against pneumococcal infections
  including bacterial meningitis (spinal cord
  brain), bacteremia (blood), pneumonia (lungs) and
  otitis media (ear).
• Varicella Protects against chickenpox (a viral
  skin disease).

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Other Immunizations Your Child May Need

• Influenza (flu) vaccine
• Rabies vaccine (only if exposed to rabies)
• Vaccines unique to other countries
• Need to get these in advance before the trip in
  order to build up immunity against the disease
• Check out this site for more information about
  vaccinations before traveling to a foreign
  country http//www.cdc.gov/travel/

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Keep track of your childs immunizations by using
CDCs National Immunization Program
website http//www.cdc.gov/nip/
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Tips for Talking to Your Child About Shots

• Do NOT share your fear about shots
• Explain that shots help keep them from getting
  sick
• Tell your child you will be there for him/her
• Try a distraction just as the shot is given
• Do NOT say the shot does not hurt - it does!
• Congratulate your child for being brave
• Plan something fun or special after theshot to
  reward his/her bravery

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Are There Immunizations for Teens?

• Yes!
• Tetanus and diphtheria (Td vaccine) booster at
  11- 12 years of age and every 10 years
• Teens with chronic diseases need protection
  against the flu and pneumonia
• Chickenpox vaccine if not vaccinated
• Hepatitis B vaccine for childrenages 8 to 18

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Immunizations for Teens
(continued)

• Hepatitis A vaccine may be needed if
• Moving to certain states in the U.S. that have a
  high prevalence of the disease
• Traveling or working in countries where the
  disease is common

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Immunizations for Teens
(continued)

• One dose (4 weeks apart) of varicella
  (chickenpox) vaccine at 11 12 years of age and
  two doses for teens 13 years of age or older
• Flu shot each year if at high risk for
  complications from influenza
• Pneumococcal vaccine if at high risk

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What About College Students?

• Meningitis - infection of the fluid of the spinal
  cord and fluid that surrounds the brain
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Students and parents should talk to their doctor
  regarding this vaccine

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Even if your children are healthy, be sure to get
the protection they need with
immunizations to keep their good health!!!

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Remember

• Stick to a schedule for your childs
  immunizations
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• Keep a record of your childsimmunizations

• 4-6 years
• 11-12 years

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• Questions?