Why should I get shots for my child?

Children need vaccines to protect them from dangerous childhood diseases. These diseases can have serious complications and can even kill. The diseases that vaccines can protect against include: measles, mumps, polio, rubella (or "German measles"), pertusis (or "whooping cough"), diphtheria, tetanus, hib disease, hepatitis B, and chicken pox.

What does it mean when the doctor tells me it’s a "live vaccine"?

A live vaccine is one that is made with a weakened version of the virus. It offers the most natural protection from disease besides getting the disease itself. Some people experience a mild case of the disease after getting the vaccine. Measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox are the live vaccines your baby should get starting at 1 year of age.

My doctor told me that the flu shot is "inactivated." What does that mean?

As of 2003, there are two types of flu vaccines. One is called the TIV (Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine): this vaccine that comes as an injection contains killed virus and therefore will not give you the flu. The other type of flu vaccine is called LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine). It is a nasal spray and it contains weakened live virus. You will not get the flu from this vaccine as the live attenuated influenza viruses will not replicate at core body temperature.

How do vaccines provide protection from disease?

Vaccines are designed to cause the body to respond to an infection. The body's defenses act like they are fighting the real disease, and build up protection just like they would if someone got sick. Once the body's defenses have made this protection (called "immunity") you will not get sick if you come in contact with the real disease.

Where can I get free shots?

The Vaccine for Children Program is a federally funded program that provides free or low cost shots to needy children. Eligible children include those without health insurance coverage, those enrolled in Medicaid, American Indians, Alaskan Natives and the underinsured.

What is the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule?

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule, a chart which shows at what age infants and children should be immunized. The recommended immunization schedule is approved by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) and the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices).

How many shots does my child need, and when?

Right now, the CDC recommends that most children receive up to 25 shots. These shots will protect against 12 different diseases that can cause serious problems in young children. The shots are generally administered at birth, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months-18 months of age and between 4 and 6 years of age. Your child will need several doses of each vaccine to be completely protected. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to come back..

What if my children don't get their shots on time, will they need to start over?

No. You never need to start a series of shots over again. There is no maximum amount of time between doses.

Is it possible to give a child too many shots at one time?

Getting more than one shot at the same time does not harm the child. Some shots are grouped so that you are protected against more than one disease but only get one shot. For example, the MMR shot prevents sickness with measles, mumps, and rubella. This type of shot is called a combination shot. In addition to combination shots the recommended schedule is designed so that children get more than one shot at the same time. When shots are given like this, it is called simultaneous administration.

Why do children need to get so many shots when they are so young?

The shots recommended by the CDC protect your child from suffering major problems, and possibly death, from the diseases they are made to prevent. The earlier your child receives the shot, the lesser chance of your child suffering problems from the disease.

My baby is healthy and I want to keep it that way -- are vaccines really safe?

Vaccines are very safe, and there are always safety checks going on to make sure they stay safe. Serious side effects are rare.

My friend's daughter got a really bad cold just a few days after getting a shot -- that was probably caused by the shot, right?

Wrong! Babies experience many illnesses, small and large, while growing up. It's very common for babies to have sniffles, ear aches, and colds. When a shot happens just a couple of days before a baby gets sick, sometimes parents think there's a connection. This idea is called temporal association and it means that the only connection between a shot and an illness is time.

Autism, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and SIDS are just some of the conditions that research shows are NOT caused by shots.

If vaccines are really safe, why do I read so many scary things about shots on the Internet and in the news?

It's very frightening to think that vaccines can be harmful to children, and when some people believe this has occurred, they feel it's important to publicize that information -- even if it has not been proven to be true. Web sites are one way that a lot of people express their anti-immunization opinions, and the media often puts out incomplete, very dramatic, or hard to understand information about vaccines. When getting these stories or news reports, it's important to get balanced information, too.

Why is it so important to protect against these diseases when kids never get them?

The reasons these diseases are so rare is because vaccines are used for protection. These diseases will still infect kids who don’t get vaccinated so it’s very important to get all the vaccines to make sure you have protection against them all.

I know my baby needs shots for protection, but how should I handle the side effects -- how would I know when I need to talk with a doctor?

There are some common side effects that you can look for. Soreness where the shot was given, and a mild fever are common. You can give non-aspirin pain reliever to help with those pains. On rare occasions, someone could have an allergic reaction to the shot -- this would happen within minutes or a few hours of having received the shot. Hives and trouble breathing are two of the serious signs of an allergic reaction and you would want to talk to a doctor about it right away.

More serious side effects, such as brain or developmental problems, are rare.

Is there a basic brochure on the shots I can read after we come back from the doctor's office?

Yes. Each time a shot is given, the provider must give you a VIS or “vaccine information statement” prior to giving the vaccine: it covers all the basic information about the shot and even tells you what to look for if you are concerned about side effects.

It seems like new shots are added all the time -- how do decisions get made about what is approved?

Lots of groups who work with children help give the recommendations for vaccines, including The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Family Physicians, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other experts. These are some of the same groups that help make other safety and health recommendations for children.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the first group that makes sure vaccines are safe and effective while they are being tested in trials. Then, once the vaccine has been safely developed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices then considers how a new vaccine fits into the routine schedule of shots.

What vaccines should adults receive?

Adults should be protected against many of the same diseases infants get protected against. The most well known shot is the tetanus booster every ten years. Other diseases adults should be protected from include measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis B, hepatitis A and the flu given yearly. Adults over the age of 65 should receive the pneumonia vaccine.

Why should adolescents be vaccinated against Hepatitis B even if they are not sexually active?

About a quarter of the people who are infected with hepatitis B do not know how they became infected. Many become infected in adolescence and early adulthood when a lot of experimenting can take place. The idea is to protect young people before they are at risk for the disease.

What vaccines do adolescents need?

Eleven to twelve years of age is considered a 'catch up' time for shots that have been missed. During this visit it is a good idea to make sure the child is caught up with his hepatitis B series, his MMR vaccines and chicken pox. It's also a good time to get the Td booster (tetanus and diphtheria) which is recommended every ten years for all adults.

Do I need to start a vaccine series over again if I did not complete it?

No, you never have to start your shots over no matter how long it has been since you got the last dose. It is recommended to pick up where your series left off.

I just found out I'm pregnant and I got the MMR last week. What do I do?

The risk from an MMR vaccine to a developing baby is only theoretical. There was a CDC Vaccine in Pregnancy Registry from 1971 to 1989. All of the 321 women given the vaccine during pregnancy or shortly after becoming pregnant continued their pregnancy to term.

It is not recommended to terminate a pregnancy because of having received the MMR vaccine. Counseling for these women is recommended.

What vaccines should college students have before going to school?

College students should make sure that they are vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B. The meningitis vaccine is recommended for college freshmen living in dorms. Tetanus diphtheria boosters are recommended every ten years. They can also consider the flu vaccine to reduce the chance of missing classes due to illness.

What diseases should seniors be vaccinated against?

The flu and pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccines are the two most commonly given to seniors, usually in the fall during flu season. The flu vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50 years of age every year. Everyone over 65 years of age should receive the pneumococcal vaccine to protect them against serious pneumonia. Both of these vaccines help prevent hospitalization and death in seniors, who are more likely to get seriously sick.

How often should I receive the pneumococcal vaccine?

Most healthy people 65 years of age or older need 1 shot. People over 2 years of age with serious medical conditions can get revaccinated 5 years after the first dose. Some of these serious conditions include a weak immune system, cancer treatment or a spleen removal.

Why does my child need to be re-immunized to enter a school?

States make rules about which vaccines are required to enter school. If an immunization record is lost, a series may have to be repeated and written down for record keeping. Revaccination is not harmful.

Is it true that my child might not be let back in school if we have missed some shots?

Yes, some schools will require that all shots are up-to-date before letting a child back in school. States enforce these rules to help make sure children are protected, and to help make sure there's less chance that a sick child will spread sickness in school.

I cannot find my child’s immunization record. Where can I get a copy?

First, you need to contact the last place the child was vaccinated for a copy. The provider may be able to check with the state health department in those states that have a state-wide immunization registry. Next, parents may contact the last school the child attended. Finally, some insurance companies are able to assist.

Why is it important to keep an immunization record?

To make sure a child is protected, the CDC says that if a shot is not documented properly, it doesn't count. Keeping track of shots may prevent the child from having to repeat a series just for record-keeping. Also, immunization records are beneficial later when a child enters college or maybe enters a health profession.

Why does the CDC recommend additional shots than my state?

The CDC can only make recommendations. The US government has allowed states to mandate which shots are required for school admission. Depending on where you live, some states might require more shots than the routine recommendations.

Where can I get more information?

You can call the CDC National Immunization Information Hotline at:
(800)232-2522 – English open from 8AM – 11PM EST
(800)232-0233 – Spanish open from 8AM – 11PM EST
(800)243-7889 – TTY open from 10AM – 10PM EST