How serious are the diseases that vaccines protect against?
How common are these diseases?
Does my child really need a vaccine for chickenpox?
I got chickenpox, and I was fine.
How long does immunity last?
Does my baby need special vaccinations if we’re traveling?
What if my child has a medical condition or disease?
Does he still get the same shots?
How serious are the diseases that vaccines protect against?
Children get vaccinated for up to 16 different diseases. All of these diseases can be dangerous. Some of them can cause pneumonia, brain damage, or cancer. Many of these diseases still kill children in the US every year.
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How common are these diseases?
Some of the diseases that children get vaccinated against are now rare in the US. Usually that’s because the vaccine has worked so well. For instance, polio has been wiped out in the US. But there are other countries where diseases like polio are still common.
Some other diseases that kids are vaccinated against are pretty common here like whooping cough (pertussis) and flu (influenza).
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Does my child really need a vaccine for chickenpox? I got chickenpox, and I was fine.
A lot of people think chickenpox is harmless. But it can be a serious disease. Before we started using the vaccine in 1995, chickenpox put about 11,000 people in the hospital every year in the US.
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How long does immunity last?
That depends on the disease. For instance, people who’ve had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine are probably immune for life. But immunity to other diseases wears off over time. That’s why people need booster shots
for diseases, like tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis).
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Does my baby need special vaccinations if we’re traveling?
Maybe. Some diseases that are rare in the US are common in other parts of the world. Diseases like typhoid fever and yellow fever are common in some parts of the world. If you’re traveling to an area with high rates of disease, then your child may need other vaccinations.
Talk with your doctor. And check the countries you’re visiting to see what diseases you may be exposed to while you’re there.
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What if my child has a medical condition or disease? Does he still get the same shots?
That depends on what medical condition or disease your child has. Some children with diseases or medical conditions that affect the immune system may need other vaccinations to stay protected. Other kinds of vaccines may not be recommended for these kids. Ask your doctor for more information.
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