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Understanding Immunizations
Understanding ImmunizationsVaccinating your child is the best and safest way of protecting them from serious, potentially deadly diseases.Vaccines help your baby fight off dangerous diseases including measles, mumps, and hepatitis. That’s why it isvery important for parents to stick to the recommended immunization schedule to ensure their child isprotected as they grow and develop.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within thefirst 24 hours after birth. Other immunizations will be given at most of your baby’s check-ups through the firstyear.Vaccines help your baby develop immunity by imitating an infection, but this “imitation” infection does notcause illness. Instead it helps your child’s body make antibodies to fight against the germs and prevent diseasein the future. Like any medication, vaccines may cause a small reaction, usually at the injection site. Pay extraattention to your child after getting immunized. If your child experiences any side effects, call your pediatrician.Concerned about the safety of vaccines and health risks, some parents have changed the recommendedvaccination schedule or have refused to vaccinate their children at all. Let’s go over some of these concerns.Vaccines do not cause Autism Spectrum Disorder. Numerous studies around the world have shown there is nolink between receiving vaccines and autism. Vaccines overwhelm your child’s immune system. This not true.Vaccines strengthen your child’s immune system. A healthy immune system requires exposure to bacteria,viruses and other infections to learn how to fight them in the future.The ingredients used in vaccines put your child’s health at risk. This is also not true. Vaccines do not containdangerous ingredients such as aluminum or formaldehyde at levels that are dangerous, and no vaccinescontain Mercury or Thimerosol. They are tested extensively for safety and they are safe for your child.Remember it is very important to get all your child’s immunizations on time. The current vaccination schedulecovers a child from birth through 18 years old.“We try to encourage parents to stay on the schedule, because a lot of parents want to split vaccines,separate them. Vaccines have been tested given together and given separately, and they actuallyshowed the safety profile was identical if they were split or given together, but the effectiveness wasmuch better if they were given together. And the sooner we get that protection to the baby, the soonerwe feel comfortable that the baby can go out into the world and be protected from some reallydevastating illnesses.”For a complete list of the recommended immunization schedule and what diseases the immunizations willprotect against, go to www.cdc.gov.The benefits of vaccines outweigh any of the possible side effects. If you are concerned about vaccines or therecommended vaccine schedule, talk to your child’s pediatrician. One of the best ways to protect your child forthe long-term is to have them vaccinated.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG56248A EN UnderstandingImmunizations.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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