Our practice believes that all children should receive the recommended vaccines according to the guidelines provided by the AAP and the CDC. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases and health complications in children and young adults. Regular vaccinations help children ward off infections, and are administered as one of the safest and best methods of disease prevention.
Grand Traverse Children's Clinic, P.C. follows the immunization guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). For information about these vaccines and the diseases they protect against, please visit http://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx
For detailed informational sheets published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis.
We are happy to discuss your concerns about vaccines at your child's next visit.
Recommended Immunization Schedule
- 0-6 Years - Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 years
- 7-18 Years - Schedule for Persons Aged 7 Through 18 years
- Catch-up Schedule - Schedule for Persons Aged 4 mos through 18 years who start late or who are more than 1 month behind
Resources
Vaccine Safety: The Facts A brief fact sheet on vaccines from the AAP
What are vaccines? Vaccinations (vaccines) protect your child against serious diseases by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies against certain bacteria or viruses. Most vaccinations are given as injections.
What diseases do vaccines protect against? Vaccines protect against measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Hib disease, chickenpox, rotavirus, meningitis, genital warts, cervical cancer, and pneumococcal disease. Vaccines can’t protect children from minor illnesses like colds, but they can keep children safe from many serious diseases.
Isn’t all talk about diseases just a way to scare parents, so they’ll bring their babies in for shots? No. These diseases can injure and kill children in the U.S. Pertussis, for example, is currently a dangerous disease for infants. During 1997 to 2001, nearly 30,000 pertussis cases were reported; 62 resulted in death. In 2003 alone, 11,647 cases and 18 deaths from pertussis were reported. Influenza also takes a toll on children. During the 2003-2004 influenza season, 40 states reported 152 influenza-related deaths among children younger than 18 years of age.
I don’t know anybody who has had measles or rubella. Why does my baby need these shots? You might not think that measles and rubella are a threat today because you don’t see or hear much about them, but they are still around. These diseases are common in other parts of the world and are just a plane ride away. If we stop vaccinating against these diseases, many people will become infected. Vaccinating your child will keep him or her safe.
Isn’t there some way besides vaccination to protect my baby against these diseases? No. Breast-feeding offers temporary immunity against some minor infections like colds, but it is not an effective means of protecting a child from the specific diseases preventable by vaccines. Likewise, vitamins don’t protect against the specific bacteria and viruses that cause these serious diseases.
Of course, infection usually results in immunity, and some parents think that getting the “natural” disease is preferable to “artificial” vaccination. Some even arrange chickenpox “parties” to ensure their child is infected. However, the price paid for natural disease can include paralysis, retardation, liver cancer, deafness, blindness, or even death. Vaccination is definitely a better choice.
Are vaccinations safe? Vaccines are safe, and researchers continually work to make sure they become even safer. Every vaccine undergoes many tests before being licensed, and its safety continues to be monitored as long as the vaccine is in use. Most side effects from vaccination are minor, such as soreness where the injection was given or a low-grade fever. These side effects do not last long and are treatable. Serious reactions are very rare. The tiny risk of a serious vaccine reaction has to be weighed against the very real risk of getting a dangerous vaccine-preventable disease. If you have concerns or questions, please talk to one of the doctors or nurses in the office.
What if my baby has a cold or fever, or is taking antibiotic? Can he or she still get vaccinated? Yes. Your child can still be vaccinated if he or she has a mild illness, a low-grade fever, or is taking antibiotics. Ask the doctors if you have questions.
How many times do I need to bring my baby in for vaccinations? At least five visits are needed before age two, but the visits can be timed to coincide with well-child check-ups. Your baby should get the first vaccine (hepatitis B) shortly after birth, while still in the hospital. Multiple visits during the first two years are necessary because there are 14 diseases your baby can be protected against, and most require several doses of vaccine for optimal protection.
How do I know when to take my baby in for shots? Grand Traverse Childrens Clinic will give you a schedule for when the next doses are due. If you are not sure, call our office to find out when you should bring your child back. Doses cannot be given too close together or immunity doesn’t have time to build up. On the other hand, you don’t want to delay your child’s shots and get behind schedule. It takes time to catch up and during this time, your child remains unprotected against these diseases.
What if I miss an appointment? Does my baby have to get the shots all over again? No. If your baby misses some doses, it’s not necessary to start over. Your provider will continue from where he or she left off.
How do I keep track of my baby’s shots? We well geve you a personal record card for your child’s vaccinations. If you don’t receive one, ask! Bring the card to all medical appointments. Wherever your child receives a vaccine, make sure the card gets updated. Your child will benefit by retaining an accurate vaccination record throughout his or her life.
What if my child isn’t a baby anymore? Is it too late to get him or her vaccinated? No. Although it’s best to have your child begin vaccination as an infant, it’s never too late to start. If you child has not received any, or all, of his or her shots, now is the time to start.
What if I can’t afford to get my child vaccinated? Vaccinations are usually free or low cost for children when families can’t afford them. You can call the CDC-INFO Contact Center at (800) 232-4636 or our local health department at (231) 922-4831 to find out where to go for affordable vaccinations. Your child’s health depends on it.
A friendly reminder for parents. Adults need vaccinations, too! Call you clinic or the health department to find out what vaccinations you might need or when your next ones are due. Your baby is counting on you!
www.vaccineinformation.org www.aap.org
Reactions to Immunizations: Immunizations (vaccinations) are medicines, and as such, they have the potential for side effects. Serious side effects are rare.
The Hib vaccine can cause a low grade fever in 5-15% and a rash in 5%. The rash and fever are often delayed until about 10 days after vaccination.
The DTaP and the pneumococcal vaccines can cause minor reactions such as redness or swelling and low grade fevers. Major reactions such as very high fever, unusual persistent cry, pallor, or convulsion have occurred in 1 in 1750 to 1 in 310,000 doses.
The chickenpox vaccine can cause fever, soreness, and a few chickenpox blisters at the injection site.
Almost all our vaccines are injections. As injections, they hurt; please don’t tell your child that they don’t hurt. They are most safely given in the thigh in infants and upper arms in older children to avoid major nerves and blood vessels. The thighs can become mildly swollen, warm, and sore from immunization injections. Warm baths and Tylenol are helpful for this side effect.
Both the number and costs of vaccines have increased in recent years. Our office policy is to cost-account the price of the vaccine and its administration, so that our clinic does not profit or lose in providing vaccines. We realize, however, that the cost to our patients is still considerable. Your insurance policy may not cover the price of the vaccine. One reasonable alternative to these costs is to obtain most of the vaccines free of charge at the Public Health Department (PHD) or at Munson Medical Center. The vaccines at the PHD and Munson are identical to those administered at our office. The difference is that the State of Michigan has purchased the vaccines and has provided them as an essential part of quality pediatric care.