As a critical component of pediatric preventive care, immunizations protect your child from many serious, vaccine-preventable diseases. While the standard immunization schedule helps most babies, kids, and teens stay on track with their vaccines, Rubina Azam, MD, FAAP, ABIHM, and the team at Baldwin Pediatrics in Panama City, Florida, also offer custom vaccine schedules to ensure all their young patients are up to date on important immunizations. Call the office to speak with a team member, or book an appointment online today.
Immunizations, or vaccines, help protect your child against a range of serious communicable diseases. By introducing a very small, very safe amount of weak or dead viral or bacterial material into their body, a vaccine gives your child’s immune system the mechanisms it needs to successfully defend itself when it comes in contact with those germs.
After your child is vaccinated against a disease, their body knows how to recognize and attack the infection if they’re ever exposed to it again. They may not become sick at all, or they may experience milder symptoms; either way, their chances of falling seriously ill are very low.
The standard vaccination schedule recommends all children who are healthy enough to receive immunizations should receive the following by the age of 2:
Because many vaccine-preventable diseases can be serious or even life-threatening, making sure your child receives all their recommended immunizations is one of the best things you can do to keep them healthy.
Newborns are given their first immunization (first dose against hepatitis B) in the hospital soon after birth. Still, they don’t receive their next vaccination (second dose against hepatitis B) until they’re 1 or 2 months old.
Although babies are born with a certain level of natural immunity against infectious pathogens, this temporary protection goes away within a few weeks. That’s why it’s imperative to make sure that all the members of your family — and anyone else who’s in close contact with your newborn, including caregivers and grandparents — are current with their own immunizations.
Although it may seem routine, making sure your child receives standard immunizations could actually save their life. Many of the diseases that are prevented by today’s vaccines, including polio, measles, and whooping cough, have left countless children seriously ill, disabled, or even dead in the past.
On top of protecting your own child’s long-term health and well-being, immunizations also help protect those who can’t receive vaccines, such as newborns, people with compromised immune systems, and others who depend on herd immunity to avoid vaccine-preventable diseases.
To help your child get up to date with recommended immunizations, call Baldwin Pediatrics today, or click online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Azam.
