Health Plan of San Joaquin | Focus Your Health | Spring 2020

National Infant Immunization Week Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) April 26 to May 2 As a parent, you do a lot to keep your kids safe. You use car seats. You babyproof your home. Vaccines are another good way to keep kids safe. Your child’s doctor gives shots to protect against diseases like whooping cough that could be serious. Getting the shots at the right time gives kids the best protection. Timing matters Babies’ immune systems aren't ready to fight some dis- eases. If an adult gets whoop- ing cough, it’s probably just a bad cough for a few weeks. If a baby gets whooping cough, it could be deadly. Shots are meant to be given before your child comes in contact with the disease. Some shots need time to take effect. So waiting until your child enters day care may be too late. The best protection Babies do have some protec- tion from getting sick—but not enough. A mother can pass on protection to her baby for a few months. Breastfeeding can also help keep your baby from getting some infections, but not all. Shots are still the best way to prevent many diseases. To protect kids from diseases like measles and mumps, they’ll need a series of shots. Some vaccines need more than one shot to build immunity. Others wear off over time. When is the right time? Your doctor can tell you the best time for each shot. Most are given during your baby’s first two years. Kids get more shots later on. For example, they’ll get a flu shot each year, and they’ll get the HPV vaccine when they are 11 or 12. Talk to your child’s doctor about what shots your baby needs for their age. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization schedule These are general recommendations. Talk with your doctor about what is right for your child. Vaccines babies and children need { BIRTH to 6 years } DTaP = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) Flu = influenza HepA = hepatitis A HepB = hepatitis B Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b IPV = polio BIRTH MONTHS YEARS 0 1 2 4 6 9 12 15 18 19–23 2–3 4–6 HepB HepB HepB HepB HepB series RV RV RV* DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTap Hib Hib Hib* Hib Hib* Hib Hib PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PPSV23 IPV IPV IPV IPV IPV Flu, yearly (1 or 2 doses) MMR MMR MMR MMR VAR VAR VAR MenACWY series Range of routinely recommended ages Range for certain high-risk groups Range for catch-up immunizations Range for non-high-risk groups subject to doctor’s advice HepA series MenACWY = meningococcal A, C, W, Y MMR = measles, mumps, rubella PCV13 = pneumococcal PPSV23 = pneumococcal RV = rotavirus VAR = varicella (chickenpox) * Needed in some cases HepA series Focus Your Health 3