Also called: Also called: Shots
Today, children in the United States routinely get vaccines that protect them from more than a dozen diseases such as measles, polio and tetanus. Most of these diseases are now at their lowest levels in history, thanks to years of immunization. Children must get at least some vaccines before they may attend school.
Vaccines help make you immune to serious diseases without getting sick first. Without a vaccine, you must actually get a disease in order to become immune to the germ that causes it. Vaccines work best when they are given at certain ages. For example, children don't receive measles vaccine until they are at least one year old. If it is given earlier it might not work as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a schedule for childhood vaccines.
Although some of the vaccines you receive as a child provide protection for many years, adults need immunizations too.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 2009 Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedule(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm
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Childhood Vaccines: What They Are and Why Your Child Needs Them(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/vaccines/028.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/vaccines/028.printerview.html
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Frequently Asked Questions about Immunizations(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fact_myth_immunizations.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/fact_myth_immunizations_esp.html
- Immunization Chart(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/immunization_chart.html
- Parent's Guide to Kids' Vaccines(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/kidsvaccines073107.html
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Protecting Your Child against Serious Diseases: Making Sure Kids Get All Their 'Shots'(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/shots.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/sshots.html
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Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/child-vpd.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/inmunizacion/nenes.htm
- Vaccines: Top 5 Myths about Childhood Vaccines(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/vaccines/CC00014/METHOD=print
- What Is a Vaccine?(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/vaccines/understanding/
- Docs Can Sway Parents' Attitudes to Vaccination(05/06/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83929.html
- Keeping Appointments Key to Keeping Vaccines on Track(05/05/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83827.html
- More Low-Income Kids Are Getting Vaccinated(05/04/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83774.html
- Infant Immunization(04/27/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/InfantImmunization/
- National Infant Immunization Week Highlights Importance of Protecting Infants(04/23/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090423.htm
- Vaccine Safety(04/20/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VaccineSafety/
- More News on Childhood Immunization http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#childhoodimmunization
- Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization(Immunization Action Coalition) - Links to PDF - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060.pdf
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hib.pdf
- Your Baby's First Vaccines: What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-multi.pdf
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After the Shots... What to Do If Your Child Has Discomfort(Immunization Action Coalition) - Links to PDF - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015-01.pdf
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Autism and the MMR Vaccine(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/mmr/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/espanol/mmr/
- Current Vaccine Shortages and Delays(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/
- Facts for Parents about Autism and Vaccine Safety(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/autismparentfacts.htm
- Frequently Asked Questions about Multiple Vaccinations and the Immune System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/multiplevaccines.htm
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Menactra Meningococcal Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/faq_guillainbarre.htm
- If We Stop Vaccinating...(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/part6.htm
- Immunization Issues: Evaluating Information about Vaccines on the Internet(National Network for Immunization Information) - http://www.immunizationinfo.org/immunization_issues_detail.cfv?id=102
- Immunization Issues: Vaccine Misinformation(National Network for Immunization Information) - http://www.immunizationinfo.org/immunization_issues_detail.cfv?id=52
- Immunizations for Babies: A Guide for Parents(Immunization Action Coalition) - Links to PDF - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4010.pdf
- Ingredients of Vaccines(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
- Possible Side-Effects from Vaccines(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Vaccines(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/sids_faq.htm
- Vaccination Records: Finding, Interpreting, and Recording(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/immuniz-records.htm
- Vaccine Recommendations for Infants and Children: Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh8-VacRecInfantsChidren.aspx
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Vaccine Shortages(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/vaccines/731.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/vaccines/731.printerview.html
- What If You Don't Immunize Your Child?(Immunization Action Coalition) - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4017.htm
- Vaccine-Preventable Disease Photos(Immunization Action Coalition) - http://www.vaccineinformation.org/photos/
- Childhood Immunization Schedule(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/kidstuff/newscheduler_le/
- What Vaccines Do You Need?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched/
- Immune System(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSystem/
- VFC (Vaccines for Children): For Parents(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/parents/default.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Childhood Immunization(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=immunization+%5BCONDITION%5D+AND+child+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D
- Kids' Vaccines Nipping Dangerous Diseases in the Bud(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/vaccines_prevention.html
- Mercury Levels in Infants Receiving Routine Immunizations(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/vaccines/research/immunizations.htm
- NIAID Research on Thimerosal(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/thimerosal.htm
- Thimerosal(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Thimerosal/
- Article: Updated immunization recommendations for children. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19378373&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Systemic tolerability of specific subcutaneous immunotherapy with index-of-reactivity-standardized allergen extracts... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19354072&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: HPV vaccination in Italy: perspectives after 1-year experience. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19350958&tool=MedlinePlus
- Childhood Immunization -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(immunization[majr]+OR+immunization+programs[majr])+AND+(child[mh]+OR+infant[mh]+OR+adolescent[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Definitions of Terms Related to Immunization(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/glossary1.htm
- Glossary / Acronyms of Vaccine-Related Terms(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms.htm
- Immunization Action Coalition - http://www.immunize.org/
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
- National Network for Immunization Information - http://www.immunizationinfo.org/
- National Vaccine Program Office(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/
- Common Questions about Vaccine Safety(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/basic/faq.htm
- Immunization Laws(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/law.htm
- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)(Health Resources and Services Administration) - http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/
- Vaccine Adverse Event Report System(Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm
- Vaccines Licensed for Immunization and Distributed in the U.S.(Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/licvacc.htm
- Eliminate Disparities in Adult & Child Immunization Rates(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/AMH/factsheets/immunization.htm
- FastStats: Immunization(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/immunize.htm
- New Vaccines Help Protect You - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall06/articles/fall06pg4-5.html
- Protecting Toddlers and Teens - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg5.html
- Vaccines Stop Illness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring08/articles/spring08pg6.html
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Kids Guide to Shots(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/guide_shots.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/sano/guide_shots_esp.html
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Vaccination: An Act of Love(Pan American Health Organization) - Large PDF file - http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/sv04_monica_eng.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.paho.org/Spanish/DD/PIN/sv04_monica_spa.pdf
- Are You 11-19 Years Old? Then You Need to Be Vaccinated against These Serious Diseases!(Immunization Action Coalition) - Links to PDF - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4020.pdf
- Immunizations(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/college/immunizations.html
- Chickenpox - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chickenpox.html
- Diphtheria - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diphtheria.html
- Hepatitis B - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hepatitisb.html
- Immunization - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunization.html
- Measles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/measles.html
- Mumps - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mumps.html
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/polioandpostpoliosyndrome.html
- Tetanus - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tetanus.html
- Whooping Cough - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/whoopingcough.html
- Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
Childhood Immunization - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/childhoodimmunization.html