Recommended Pediatric Vaccination Schedules

When it comes to pediatric vaccination schedules, you might find a few different ones. However, they all, for the most part, follow the same guidelines. By keeping your child up-to-date on immunizations, there is less risk for them to develop a serious or even life-threatening illness.

Why are pediatric vaccinations important?

Following a pediatric vaccination schedule is a great way for parents to protect their children.

Continued controversy

In recent years, immunizations have become a hot topic. While most parents believe in them, some do not. The truth is that without following a pediatric vaccination schedule, kids would be at risk of developing all types of diseases. In fact, vaccines are why so many illnesses have disappeared. For instance, smallpox, which caused the death of many children, is no longer a threat.

For a better understanding, parents should consider why following a pediatric vaccination schedule is so vital.

• Protection — Sticking to a recommended pediatric vaccination schedule gives children the protection they need to stay healthy
• Secondary problems — Immunizations also protect kids from complications of vaccine-preventable diseases, including paralysis, brain damage, hearing loss and limb amputation
• Immune system — Vaccines help boost a child’s immune system until it becomes strong enough to fight things like a cold or the flu, and without much or any medical intervention
• Safe and effective — Adhering to the recommended pediatric vaccination schedule is both safe and effective
• Cost savings — By keeping kids up-to-date on their immunizations, they spend less time at the doctor’s office or hospital, which equates to cost savings for the parents

The schedule

Parents should follow the pediatric vaccination schedule below.

• Birth — Hep B vaccine
• 1 to 2 months — Second Hep B dose
• 2 and 4 months — The vaccination a pediatrician recommends for this age includes immunizations for TDaP, Hib, PCV, RV, and IPV
• 6 months — The same pediatric vaccination schedule for a 2-month and 4-month old, excluding IPV
• 6 months and then annually — Influenza (flu shot)
• 6 to 18 months — Hep and IPV
• 12 to 14 months — Hib, MMR, PCV and Varicella
• 12 to 23 months — Hep A
• 15 to 18 months — TDaP
• 4 to 6 years — TDaP, MMR, IPV and Varicella
• 11 to 12 years — TDaP booster, HPV and the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
• 16 to 18 years — Meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Varying circumstances

There are certain circumstances in which a pediatrician might modify the recommended pediatric vaccination schedule. For instance, if parents plan to take an infant to a country known for a particular disease, the doctor may add that to the list. Also, for children at risk for health problems, the pediatrician might suggest giving a flu shot at an earlier age.

Protect your children

As a parent, one of the greatest things you can do for your children is to follow the pediatric vaccination schedule provided by your pediatrician. Tiny babies struggle to fight off diseases. Then, school-aged kids get exposed to all kinds of things. By keeping up on their immunizations, they have a better chance of remaining healthy. At the same time, you will have peace of mind.

Request an appointment here: https://www.emeraldpediatricandfamilyclinic.com or call Emerald Pediatric & Family Clinic at (281) 444-7726 for an appointment in our Houston office.

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