Vaccinations are common during childhood but they're also somewhat controversial. According to KidsHealth website, some parents fear the effects of vaccine in the body and as a result question the idea of vaccinating their children. If you're worried about side effects and long-term effects, you should talk to your doctor so you can come up with a vaccination schedule you are comfortable with. Most vaccines are applied when your child is still a baby, so it makes sense to air your concerns early on.
Infants And Toddlers
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, children younger than 2 years old need to be vaccinated at least once against a series of diseases. Some vaccines can be combined into a single shot to reduce the number of doctor's visits. Common vaccinations at this age include hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, whooping cough or pertussis, diphtheria and bacterial meningitis. Doctors also recommend vaccinations against influenza, pneumococcal disease and rotavirus at this age.
School-Age Children
Children 2 and older need to be vaccinated yearly against influenza, according to the CDC. Certain vaccines require boosters at this age. For example, children between 4 and 6 should receive the last dose of the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. At around 5, kids should also receive the final booster of the pneumococcal vaccine. Before children turn 6, they should get the second dose of the MMR or measles, mumps and rubella combination vaccine. Children at high risk of contracting meningococcal disease should be vaccinated again before they turn 10.
Pre-Teen and Beyond
Most children of this age should already have all their vaccines and would only require a booster. For this age, the CDC recommends the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. A booster of the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, to protect against meningitis, is also recommended. Two optional vaccines that are a good idea at this age include yearly flu shots and the HPV vaccine, which is given to girl aged 11 to 12 to protect against the type of HPV virus that might cause cervical cancer.
