Perhaps the 20th century’s greatest public health accomplishment was the widespread use of vaccines to limit the spread of disease. In the mid-1950s, there were national efforts to promote vaccines for all children in the United States. Since then, deaths associated with smallpox and polio caused by wild-type viruses have been eliminated. The death rate is nearly zero for diseases such as measles and tetanus with vaccines to protect against them.
However, just because a disease is virtually eradicated in the United States does not mean it can’t be brought here from other parts of the world. For example, doctors where able to trace a recent outbreak of mumps in Brooklyn to a Boro Park child who caught the disease last summer while traveling in England, where vaccinations are not as common. It is for this reason that the continued immunization of children in the United States is so important. Without regular vaccinations, an epidemic could occur, causing thousands of unnecessary deaths. Vaccinations are safe, and adverse reactions are rare. The benefits of immunization to individuals and society far outweigh these limited risks.
A vaccine works by injecting low levels of a dead or weakened virus into the body. The body’s immune system then creates antibodies to fight the disease. Once the body has the code to kill the virus, it will release the antibodies when it comes in contact with the disease again, thus preventing infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children receive vaccinations against these diseases:
• Hepatitis B
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
(Hib disease)
• Polio
• Pneumococcal disease
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Varicella (chicken pox).
Specific circumstances may warrant additional vaccinations. Although children should be inoculated against many diseases, some of the vaccinations are given in combination, reducing the number of total injections needed over a lifetime. For maximum effectiveness: children must receive each vaccine at specific ages:
Hepatitis B — between birth and two months, between one month and four months and between six months and 18 months.
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis — two months, four months, six months, between 15 months and 18 months and between four years and six years. At 11 years, the booster for tetanus and diptheria toxoids is given and should be updated every 10 years.
Hib disease and pneumococcal conjugate (each) — two months, four months, six months and between 12 and 15 months.
Inactivated polio vaccine — two months, four months, between six and 18 months and six years.
Measles, mumps and rubella — between 12 and 15 months and between four years and six years. The second injection should be given by 12 years if missed earlier.
Varicella — between 12 months and 18 months.
Hepatitis A (only for those who live in an area where it is prevalent or who are part of a population group at high risk) — between 24 months and 18 years.
Your child’s pediatrician will keep careful records and remind you when the next series of immunizations are needed. For further information regarding immunization, ask your pediatrician.
