Regular checkups at your pediatrician's office or local health clinic are an important way to keep children healthy. By making sure that your child gets immunized on time, you can provide the best available defense against many dangerous childhood diseases. Immunizations protect children against: hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal infections, and chickenpox.

All of these immunizations need to be given before children are 2 years old in order for them to be protected during their most vulnerable period. Are your child's immunizations up-to-date?

NOTE: We always make sure before giving any shots that there have not been any recalls of specific lots of vaccines.

DaPT = Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus. This used to be called DTP and was the shot which in the past received the most publicity, perhaps because of the very infrequent reactions which occurred, mostly due to the pertussis fraction of the shot. Our opinion is that all children need to be immunized against pertussis since it is one of the preventable diseases.

The improved version of the DAPT vaccine is now given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months and 5 years. Acellular pertussis is a new type of vaccine which has drastically reduced the risk and hyper-reactivity of the pertussis and makes this shot effective and safe for almost all children, including most of those who may not have received the original DPT shot.

After six years of age, the version of the injection is called the dT, which is a lower dose of diphtheria, and tetanus, without any pertussis vaccine. This is usually the version of the “tetanus booster shot” which is given during the teen years, now required for entry into 7th grade.

MMR = measles, mumps, and rubella. This is given at 12 months and again at 5 years (required before entry to kindergarten). This shot does not usually cause an immediate febrile reaction, but often will cause a fine rash and occasionally a high fever 7-14 days after the shot. This reaction will disappear spontaneously and does not mean that your baby is contagious. In addition, this reaction does not pose any danger to pregnant women (because of the rubella)

The MMR vaccine recently came under fire because of a suspected link to autism. Numerous studies have refuted the original study which claimed that the combination vaccine, as opposed to the single-disease vaccines, caused this developmental disorder. Despite several reassuring studies which we will discuss with you, some parents are still uneasy about receiving this vaccine. Our policy is that everyone still needs to be completely immunized against measles, mumps and rubella.

IPV = injectable or inactivated polio vaccine. We are now administering only the IPV. This is given at 2 and 4 months,1 year and 5 years. The OPV, or oral polio vaccine, is the form of the vaccine which was phased out in the United States in 2000. It was a “live virus” and had the very slight potential to be excreted in the stool for a period of time thereby increasing the possibility of contracting polio.

HIB = Hemophilus Influenza B vaccine. This is given along with the DaPT at 2, 4 and 6 months and at 15 months. The HIB is a very safe vaccine which has been single-handedly responsible for reducing the incidence of Hemophilus Influenza disease which used to be a very common cause of meningitis and epiglottitis. Despite its similar sounding name, it is not related to the influenza or “flu” vaccine.

Hepatitis B vaccine. This required vaccine is given at 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months (or alternatively at 2 months, 4 months and 9 months).

TB testing. Presently, the only reliable test is the PPD. The old tine test is no longer recommended. It is not required for school entry unless your child is in a high risk group, such as known exposure or travel in countries where TB is endemic.

Varivax. This is the chickenpox (or varicella) vaccine which was introduced in 1995. It is now required for school entry but is recommended and usually given to children at 12 months. Some children can still get chickenpox even after receiving the vaccine and rarely, as a result of the vaccine.

Prevnar or PCV 7. This is the pneumococcal bacteria vaccine which is given during the baby’s first year of life to protect them from a life-threatening disease of infants and toddlers.

Menomune is the vaccine which is given to college-age students before they go off to college. It protects them from a serious disease called meningococcal meningitis. It is required in certain states for incoming freshmen.

Click here for the Center For Disease Control's printable recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents. (.pdf)