Administrations of vaccines are a pre-emptive strike against certain diseases or viruses. In most cases, they prevent people from developing them. People receive vaccines throughout their entire lives for life-threatening and common diseases, and law requires that children receive certain vaccines before enrolling in school. For diseases and viruses that threaten infants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, offer the administration of several vaccines before the age of one.
Hepatitis B (HepB)
The HepB vaccine protects against the contraction or development of hepatitis B virus, or HBV, a disease that affects the liver. Infected children commonly develop chronic HBV, which can lead to liver cancer, liver disease and death. In 2005, more than one million people had chronic HBV in the United States. By recommendation of the CDC, all children receive the first dose of the HepB vaccine at birth. They should receive the second dose no earlier than one month later and the third dose after the age of 6 months.
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine
The DTaP vaccine is a combination vaccine that prevents the contraction of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Diphtheria is a disease that causes breathing problems by producing a thick film on the throat. Pertussis causes coughing spells that can lead to pneumonia and seizures. Diptheria and pertussis spread through human contact, while tetanus, a disease that causes jaws to lock, enters the body through wounds. Bacteria cause all three potentially fatal diseases. The CDC recommends that infants receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine. Administration of the first four doses should occur at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 1 year. Children receive the last dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
PCV protects against the 13 most severe of the 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococcal bacteria can cause infections of the lungs, brain and blood--pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia, respectively. The CDC recommends that children receive four doses of PCV. They should receive the first three doses at the ages of 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. They should receive the last dose between the ages of 12 and 15 months.
Rotavirus Vaccine (RV)
RV is a swallowed vaccine. It prevents contraction of the rotavirus. The virus causes severe diarrhea, and babies can contract rotavirus in the presence of a baby who is currently infected. The CDC permits administration of the first dose of the vaccine at an age as young as 6 weeks, but recommends it at an age of 2 months. They recommend administration of the second dose at 4 months.
References
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Recommended Immunization for Persons Ages 0 Through 6 Years
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:Hepatitis B Vaccine
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rotavirus Vaccine
