Vaccines have gotten a bad rap over the years, from the children who fear the needle, to parents who dread the bill! You might want to inquire on your child’s vaccination schedule and the prices of each shot. There are also a number of health centers nationwide that offer most, if not all, of the necessary vaccines at minimal cost.
There are also groups that believe vaccines have permanent side effects, which can really scare off many parents. Personally, I believe in vaccinating children because I feel that the benefits greatly outweigh both the risks of the diseases as well as those (if any) of the vaccines themselves. But of course, every parent has the right to decide.
In the beginning, when I used to bring my then newborn baby girl to the pediatrician’s office, I didn’t know much about the shots she was receiving or their schedules. I was a little worried about the supposed side effects and constantly asked if they were necessary.
It’s a good thing our pediatrician, Dr. Romeo Nuguid, would always explain everything in full detail. He is also very efficient in keeping track of the vaccination schedules of both my kids, so I never have to worry about when we should go back.
Recently, I found this chart online and thought I would share it with all of you. It has the recommended immunizations from birth to six years of age. It is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention which falls under the US Department of Health and Human Services. I would have preferred to find one from our local counterpart, but I wasn’t able to.
Fortunately, a quick check with Dr. Nuguid confirmed that these are basically the same shots that Filipino children are given. One of the few differences is that most Philippine doctors give the measles shot separately, at around eight months old, due to the prevalence of the illness in our country.
The chart itself is pretty easy to read and navigate, but here is a short list that might help (though this is not meant to substitute professional medical advice).
In general, most children do not experience any remarkable reactions to these vaccines other than irritation and redness in the injected area and a slight rise in temperature. If your child exhibits excessive and unusual crying or sleepiness, limpness, paleness, high fever and convulsion, notify your pediatrician immediately.
Blood and bodily fluids
1. Hepatitis B (HepB)
The first dose must be administered at birth in the hospital before you bring your baby home. The second dose comes between one and two months and the final dose is between six to 18 months. Hepatitis B is spread by contact with blood or bodily fluids. It may have no symptoms, or may be characterized by fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, jaundice and joint pain. Complications may lead to chronic liver infection, liver failure and liver cancer.
2. Rotavirus (RV)
The first dose must be given at two months old. The second dose is administered at four months old, while the third dose is at six months of age. Rotavirus is contracted through the mouth and characterized by diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Complications may lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration.
3. Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)
The DTaP vaccine is given in three doses at two, four and six months old. A fourth dose is given anywhere between 15 and 18 months, and a final dose is given at four to six years old. Both diphtheria and pertussis are transmitted through the air and direct contact, while tetanus can be contracted through cuts in the skin. All three are part of one vaccine and are quite different from one another, but in cases of complications, may all lead to death.
Diphtheria is characterized by sore throat, mild fever, weakness and swollen glands in the neck. Complications can lead to swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis and death.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is characterized by a severe cough, runny nose and apnea (a pause in breathing). Complications can lead to pneumonia (an infection in the lungs) and death.
Tetanus is spotted through stiffness in the neck and abdominal muscles, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms and fever. Complications may lead to broken bones, breathing difficulty and death.
Alert your doctor if your child “has a severe reaction to the initial immunization” or has had a “previous convulsion due to a progressive disease of the nervous system.”
4. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
The Hib vaccine is given in three separate doses during the second, fourth and sixth months. The fourth dose is given between the 12th and 15th months. Unless bacteria enters the blood, Hib may have no symptoms. However, complications may lead to meningitis (“infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord”), mental retardation, an infected epiglottis (“life-threatening infection that can block the windpipe and lead to serious breathing problems”), pneumonia and death.
5. Pneumococcal (PCV)
The PCV vaccine is given as protection against pneumococcus, which is contracted through the air and direct contact. It is given in three doses during the second, fourth and sixth months. The fourth dose is given between the 12th and 15th months. It may have no symptoms or, in other cases, may be characterized by pneumonia. Complications may lead to bacteremia (“blood infection”), meningitis and death.
Children who belong to certain high risk groups are also given the pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV) between the ages of two and six. The meningococcal conjugate vaccines, quadrivalent (MCV4) is not included in this chart but is also given to high risk children or those with certain medical conditions.
No symptoms
6. Polio (IPV)
The first two doses of IPV are given during the second and fourth months. The third dose may be given anytime between six and 18 months, and the final dose comes between the ages of four and six. Polio is spread through the mouth and may have no symptoms or may come with sore throat, fever, nausea and headaches. Complications may lead to paralysis and death.
7. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
The MMR vaccine is given between 12 to 15 months and again between the ages of four and six. MMR is another three-in-one as it fights measles, mumps and rubella. All three are spread through the air and direct contact. If your toddler is allergic to eggs, there is a very small chance that a reaction may occur.
Measles is characterized by a rash, fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye. Complications may lead to encephalitis (“brain swelling”), pneumonia and death.
Mumps is characterized by swollen salivary glands under the jaw, fever, headaches, tiredness and muscle pain. Complications may lead to meningitis, encephalitis, inflammation of testicles or ovaries and deafness.
Rubella (German measles) is sometimes characterized by a rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes. Complications are very serious for pregnant women, as it may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and birth defects.
As I mentioned earlier, some doctors choose to give the measles vaccine separately and ahead at eight months old with the MMR vaccine following at 13-15 months and again at four to six years old.
8. Varicella
The varicella vaccine is used to immunize against chickenpox, which spreads through air and direct contact. It is given between 12 to 15 months of age and again between four and six years old. Many children go through chickenpox, as it is very common in the Philippines.
Symptoms include itchy rashes, tiredness, headache and fever. In rare cases, complications may arise and lead to infected blisters, bleeding disorders, encephalitis and pneumonia.
9. Hepatitis A (HepA)
HepA is given in two doses with the first between 12 to 23 months of age and the second dose six to 18 months later. It is a disease that is spread through personal contact and contaminated food or water. In some cases, there are no symptoms, while other cases may be characterized by fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, jaundice and dark urine. Complications may lead to liver failure.
10. Influenza
The influenza vaccine is immunization against the flu and given once a year. The minimum age is at least six months old. Children under eight years old who receive the vaccine for the first time must get a second dose four weeks later. The flu is characterized by fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough and extreme fatigue. Complications may lead to pneumonia.
Information is from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf.
Additional information is from Dr. Romeo Nuguid and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Complete and Authoritative Guide to Caring for Your Baby and Young Child.”