Pediatric Immunizations

Pediatric Immunizations are very important for your child’s healthy development. They protect children from lots of infectious diseases. We have created a simple guide for you to better understand the various immunizations that are recommended for your child.

What are Pediatric immunizations?

Pediatric immunizations create immunity against diseases in children. They are a way of inducing immunity against a host of diseases. Immunizations are also known as vaccines.

Weakened germs are injected as vaccines. This stimulates the disease-fighting system in the body. The body treats them as a real infection and develops immunity. As a result, when real germs attack, the body fights off the infection easily.

What are the types of Vaccines/ Immunizations?

There are four main types of vaccinations for children.

Attenuated Immunizations

Attenuated vaccines contain weakened strains of viruses. These viruses cannot cause
diseases. They may, however, induce mild fevers and signs. When injected, they trigger an immune body response. The body creates antibodies and kills the weakened viruses. These antibodies stay inside the body and come handy when a real infection occurs. The body is now said to be immune to opportunistic diseases caused by the particular virus.

Examples include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines.

Inactivated Immunizations

Inactivated vaccines constitute killed viruses and bacteria. Such vaccines trigger immunity against dead pathogens. Such immunizations cannot cause diseases or any mild symptoms. The body produces antibodies to engulf these foreign particles, and in this way becomes immune to them.

Examples include the Polio (IPV) vaccination.

Toxoid Immunizations

Toxoid vaccinations contain inactivated toxins produced by disease-causing bacteria. These vaccines cause no symptoms or diseases. The body produces neutralizing antibodies in response and develops immunity.

Examples include diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

Conjugate Immunizations

Conjugate Immunizations constitute bacterium parts infused with proteins. Such vaccines may cause mild symptoms.

Examples include HIB vaccines.

Why are immunizations important?

Did you know? Pediatric Immunizations are the best protection you can give your children. The following explains why pediatric immunizations are so important.

-Pediatric Immunizations provide protection from opportunistic infectious diseases. Immunized bodies have a greater chance of survival. Often, immunized persons only show mild signs when attacked. Vaccines make your child’s body ready to fight diseases beforehand.
-Pediatric Immunizations are safe and effective. They hardly have any repercussions. Some children, however, may face mild symptoms. These symptoms are short-term, and the benefits of vaccines outweigh these mild symptoms by far.
-Vaccines are effective tools of disease prevention and control. Herd immunization helps reduce pandemics. Polio and Smallpox are some of the biggest examples in history that have been restricted after successful global immunizations were developed by the World Health Organization.
-Immunizations help protect others around you by breaking contagious cycles.
-Pediatric Immunizations save money and time. Infectious diseases can be
time-consuming and expensive to deal with, and can bring about long-lasting medical consequences and emotional trauma.
-Future generations can be protected via Pediatric Immunizations. Many past infectious diseases no longer exist in the present, due to the development of vaccines against them.

Immunization Schedule for Children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the following pediatric immunizations schedule is recommended:

Key:

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

There are lots of vaccine-preventable diseases. Knowing them can help one recognize the importance of vaccination in children. The following table has been designed to enlighten you on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases with their successful immunizations.

Immunization Concerns

Some parents hesitate to get their child immunized. They fear serious reactions or illnesses in response to vaccinations. Their concerns are valid and significant. However, the constituents of immunizations are weakened or inactive. In many vaccines, only a few parts of the germ are used, so it is very unlikely that a vaccine may cause any serious medical condition.

In some cases, mild reactions like fever or soreness may occur. Serious reactions are very rare. The benefits of immunizations outweigh the small risks of serious reactions. They are the best means of protection against infectious diseases.

General Immunizations at Kids’ Health Alliance Ocala

Kids’ Health Alliance Ocala offers all the general immunizations on the AAP-recommended Immunization schedule. Although we do not recommend it, we do also offer delayed immunization schedules for parents who choose to go that route – however, it is important to note that your child would still need to be caught up on all the required immunizations when they start daycare or return to school.

Aside from routine Physicals and Immunizations, we also offer general Pediatric Care, Mental Health and ADHD Management, Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy, and Telemedicine so that you do not have to miss work or school to have your child seen. Our specialized care will provide the individualized help your child needs. We have locations in Ocala, Dunnellon, and Silver Springs. Visit www.ocalapediatrician.com to learn more.

We hope this guide helped you have a better understanding of the importance of pediatric immunizations and how they work.

References:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child-easyread.html#table-child

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/vaccine.html

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html