Protect your children; keep up to date with their shots

Health risks of vaccinations typically do not get serious, but can give the child the disease that they are intended to prevent.  Normal reactions to vaccinations are soreness where the shot was given or a fever.  Many parents do not want to take the risks of vaccinations that can cause the disease they are trying to prevent, but the vaccinations often do keep the child healthy and give less of a risk of contracting the disease.

Hepatitis B: 1-2 months, 6-8 months

Hepatitis B affects the liver and those who become infected can become lifelong carriers of the virus.  Long-term effects of Hepatitis B are cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP): 15-18 months, 4-6 years

Diphtheria is an infection of the throat that can block the airway, tetanus is also known as lockjaw, and pertussis is known as whooping cough.

Haemophilus influenzae type b: 12-15 months

The type b bacteria were the leading cause of meningitis in children.

Pneumococcal: 12-15 months

Pneumococcal infections bring serious infections like pneumonia, blood infections and bacterial meningitis.

Inactivated Poliovirus: 6-18 months, 4-6 years

Polio is a viral infection that can lead to permanent paralysis.

Influenza: 6 months-5 years (Yearly)

A highly contagious viral infection affecting the respiratory tract, also known as ‘the flu.’

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): 12-15 months

Measles, or rubella, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that can infect many parts of the body.

Varicella: 12-15 months, 4-6 years

Also known as chickenpox, a very contagious childhood viral illness.

Hepatitis A: 12-24 months (2 doses)

The virus causes fever, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice, and can lead to large epidemics.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/vaccine.html