Along with clean water, improved sanitation, and fresh food, vaccines have played a significant role in reducing child mortality.
Children have weaker immune systems and are more likely to develop complications if they’re unvaccinated. If a child has a dysfunctional immune system, even something as common as the flu can cause serious issues.
We asked our experts at Bethel Family Medicine all about vaccines. Read on to find out what vaccines your child needs to stay healthy and active.
The immune system of an infant isn’t fully developed. During this time, it’s critical for your baby to get all of the nutrients they need, and preferably be breastfeed, as breast milk helps build immunity. For children, vaccines are the second layer of protection against a series of dangerous diseases.
If your child is less than one year old, they’ll receive the following vaccines:
As your child grows up, they may need to repeat some of the vaccines — namely the Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Polio vaccines.
Aside from boosters for previous vaccines, your child may also receive the varicella, measles, mumps, influenza, and rubella vaccines.
Even with the varicella vaccine, some children may develop wild-type varicella, which is a highly contagious type of varicella-zoster virus that is less severe than the typical varicella and responds to the same type of treatment.
Mumps, which typically goes away on its own with rest and good nutrition within one to two weeks, may also occur in some children despite vaccination. However, a child’s chances of developing mumps decrease if they’re vaccinated against the virus.
The flu vaccine isn’t mandatory, but it can help your child fight the flu. Each year, the formulation of the vaccine changes depending on what researchers predict the flu strains will look like during the flu season.
According to estimates, there were over 400,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths due to influenza in the United States during the 2019-2020 flu season. Even if your child is active and eats a balanced diet, they may still benefit from the protective properties of the flu vaccine.
Vaccines are tested for safety by government organizations and are recommended by all health institutions as a way to prevent disease.
If you live near Brockton, Massachusetts, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our experts will look at your child’s immunization sheet and let you know if more boosters or vaccines are needed.
