Standard Immunization Schedule For Children

Childhood diseases have long been a concern of parents and doctors alike. The list of the most common illnesses is a clear indicator of the significance of this issue. From birth, children receive vaccinations to protect against some of the common and more dangerous of these.

The DTaP is actually three diseases rolled into one immunization: diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis. DTaP is the newest version of the vaccine and the only one children now receive in the U.S. It contains only those portions of the pertussis bacterium needed for immunity.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial disease that most commonly leads to fever and sore throat. In serious cases, the upper airway can become obstructed and make breathing impossible. Other complications include heart toxicity and paralysis of the arms and legs. Approximately five percent of diphtheria cases result in death. Receiving the full DTaP vaccination series provides 95 percent protection.

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, results from the production of a bacterial toxin that causes muscle spasms and paralysis. The classic feature of this disease is paralysis of the muscles of the face and mouth which cause the jaw to "lock" making it impossible to swallow. Approximately thirty percent of tetanus cases result in death. Receiving the full DTaP series provides 100 percent protection.

Pertussis, also called whooping cough or the "100-day cough," is a severe bacterial respiratory illness that can make it nearly impossible for an infant to breath, eat or drink. Approximately 0.5 percent of whooping cough cases result in death. Receiving the full DtaP series provides about eighty percent protection, and those that do contract the bacteria after being immunized will generally have milder symptoms.

Approximately half of children vaccinated with DTaP will not experience any side effects. Of those who do, the majority will have only a mild reaction, which includes soreness at the site of injection, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability, and sleepiness.

Measles is a viral disease that causes fever, cough and a characteristic rash. Measles can also cause pneumonia, ear infection, encephalitis, and seizures. It causes death in approximately 0.3 percent of cases. Receiving the full MMR vaccination series provides about 95 percent protection.

Mumps is a virus that affects the salivary glands which results in the classic swelling of the face, almost always on both sides. It can also cause fever and headache. Some cases result in deafness or inflammation of other organs in the body, including the pancreas (pancreatitis), brain (encephalitis), lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and testicles (orchitis). A very few cases result in death. Receiving the full MMR series provides about 95 percent protection.

Rubella, or German measles, is typically not a worry in childhood. But receiving the vaccine protects from contracting the rubella virus later in life when it can be dangerous, particularly in pregnant women. Infection with German measles during pregnancy can result in miscarriage of severe birth defects. Receiving the full MMR series provides about 95 percent protection.

The most common side effects of the MMR are a mild fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. It may cause joint stiffness or seizure. Very rarely will a serious allergic reaction occur.

 

No Connection Between MMR and Autism While researchers believe that genetics is one of the factors contributing to autism they are not absolutely certain what exactly causes the condition. What they do know is this: the MMR vaccine or any other vaccine does not cause autism. In fact, avoiding the use of MMR, based on circumstantial evidence, could result in outbreaks of these diseases. More about autism.

Chicken pox, is caused by the varicella virus. While chicken pox is generally a mild disease, complications can occur in newborns, immunocompromised individuals and adults. Childhood immunization for chicken pox also helps protect against shingles, the reactivation of the virus during adulthood in those who developed chicken pox as a child. The vaccine is currently recommended for children over one year who have not yet had chicken pox.

Hepatitis B vaccination, first licensed in 1981, is now recommended for all infants and provides up to 95 percent protection. The treatment schedule consists of three injections within the first two years of life.

Hib protects against Haemophilus influenza type b, a potentially life-threatening bacterium that can cause several diseases including meningitis, difficulty breathing due to epiglottitis, pneumonia, and bacterial arthritis. Deaths caused by these diseases are five percent for meningitis, nine to eighteen percent for epiglottitis, and about five percent for pneumonia. Receiving the full Hib series provides about 95 percent protection. Most children will experience no side effects, but when side effects do occur, they are mild and include soreness or redness at the site of injection, and fever.

HPV, the Human Papillomavirus, which causes genital warts and cervical cancer, is now preventable. In June 2006, the FDA approved the first HPV preventive vaccine, Gardasil® manufactured by Merck & Co. Given in three injections over a six-month period, the vaccine is approved for girls and women ages 9 to 26, and ideally should be administered before possible exposure to the virus due to sexual activity. In clinical studies Gardasil prevented 100 percent of cervical cancers and 99 percent of genital warts.

Pneumococcal vaccine, or the new pneumococcal conjugate, protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria responsible for most cases of pneumonia, meningitis, ear infection, sinusitis, and sepsis in children under two.

Poliomyelitis, or simply polio, is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can potentially be fatal. Routine vaccination against poliomyelitis has virtually eliminated the disease from both North and South America, but not from the rest of the world. Most children will experience no side effects, or a minor soreness at the site of injection. Because the risk of contracting the virus is greater than reaction to the vaccine it is still included in the standard immunization schedule for children. The full polio series provides 99 percent protection.

Hepatitis A is not part of the standard vaccination program. Its use is generally reserved for adolescents at increased risk for hepatitis A infection and symptoms. Travelers to regions with high hepatitis A prevalence are also advised to get vaccinated.

Six Fewer Injections for Infants In December 2002, the FDA approved a new combination vaccine to protect infants against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and poliomyelitis in one injection. Prior to the release of Pediatrix®, infants received approximately twenty injections before their first birthday. Pediatrix reduces this number to eighteen.

One major issue is whether children, particularly infants, were receiving too many antigens for their bodies to handle. The theory is that this routine practice could result in SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Researchers point out that in 1960, nearly 3200 antigens were delivered through the administration of various vaccines: smallpox alone accounted for some 200 antigens. By the year 2000, however, this number had declined to around 123 antigens, primarily because smallpox vaccinations had been discontinued in the 1980s. No viable research has established any connection between early immunization and the increased risk of SIDS. Follow the link for additional information on SIDS.

Concerns about the safety of flu shots and the flu vaccine have long been an issue with childhood immunizations. With the increase in the rates of juvenile asthma, parents have been concerned that the side effects of the flu shot could be worse than the influenza it protects against. A recent study performed by the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers on individuals previously diagnosed with asthma found that body aches were the most frequent side effect associated with vaccination and strongly urged that all adults and children receive the flu shots. Annual vaccination against the influenza virus is recommended for children over the age of six months who have asthma, heart disease, sickle cell disease, HIV, and/or diabetes. Some health authorities even recommend annual vaccinations for all children whenever feasible.