Recommended Vaccinations for Infants & Children (Birth through 6 years)
What is…?
Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control, Vaccines for Your Children
Chicken Pox
Chickenpox is a disease that causes an itchy rash of blisters and a fever. A person with chickenpox may have as many as 500 blisters. The rash can spread over the whole body. Chickenpox can be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Flu
Flu—short for influenza—is an illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially for young children, older people, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. When a person is first infected with the virus, he or she can develop an “acute” (short-term) infection.
Measles
Measles is a serious respiratory disease (in the lungs and breathing tubes). It causes a rash and fever. It is very contagious. In rare cases, it can be deadly.
Pneumococcal
Pneumococcal disease can cause infections of the ears, lungs, blood, and brain. Pneumococcal disease is an illness caused by bacteria called pneumococcus. It is often mild, but can cause serious symptoms, lifelong disability, or death.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. It affects mostly babies and young children. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to serious dehydration (loss of body fluid). If dehydration is not treated, it can be deadly.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a toxin (poison) made by bacteria. It causes painful muscle stiffness and can be deadly.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria starts with a sore throat, mild fever (101 degrees or less), and chills. Next, it can cause a thick coating in the back of the nose or throat. The coating may be white or grayish and makes it hard to breathe or swallow.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Children with the virus often don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including their unvaccinated parents or caregivers. These individuals can get very sick.
Hib
Hib disease is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Babies and children younger than 5 years old are most at risk for Hib disease.
Mumps
Mumps is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes. Mumps spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. There is no treatment for mumps, and it can cause long-term health problems.
Polio
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis. Paralysis caused by poliovirus occurs when the virus replicates in and attacks the nervous system. The paralysis can be lifelong, and it can be deadly.
Rubella
Rubella, sometimes called “German measles,” is a disease caused by a virus. The infection is usually mild with fever and a rash.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Whooping cough is a very serious respiratory (in the lungs and breathing tubes) infection. It is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It can cause violent coughing fits.