Childhood immunizations are given primarily as recommended by pediatric organizations and your child's physician. Vaccinations serve a purpose in protecting your child from serious illnesses, but, in certain cases, immunizations are not recommended. Your physician may recommend delaying a vaccination or skipping it entirely.
Current Recommendations
Vaccine recommendations periodically change. The American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as your pediatrician or family physician, provides charts outlining the current recommendations. Immunizations typically are given as early as at birth and then again at 2, 4 and 6 months and between 12 and 18 months. Booster doses of certain immunizations are administered between the ages of 4 and 6 years. If your child does not start immunizations at the recommended time or skips some, he can still start the vaccinations at any time and receive shots he missed.
Purpose
The purpose of vaccinations is to prevent childhood diseases that have serious health implications, including death. Babies are born with antibodies they receive from their mothers; these antibodies protect them initially, but the immunities start to decrease quickly within the first year of life. Vaccinations introduce parts of antigens of diseases to force your child's immune system to produce antibodies to fight off these diseases. Your child is able to develop an immunity from the disease without having to experience the disease.
Exceptions
Vaccines can produce temporary, usually mild, side effects, including a fever or sore spot on the skin where the vaccine is administered. If your child experiences serious side effects from a particular vaccine, your physician may suggest concluding the series of vaccines. If your child has a serious illness or cancer, your physician may recommend not giving a vaccine to your child until later.
Other Considerations
Some schools have a specific set of vaccines they require your child to receive before the child can attend school. Your physician must fill out a form -- often provided by the school -- indicating when the vaccine is administered. In a vaccine shortage, your child may not receive the immunization until the vaccine is back in full supply. Often, during a vaccine shortage, there is a vaccine reserve for those who need it the most -- primarily young children, elderly, those with certain health conditions or pregnant women.
