Babies are born with protection against some diseases because their mothers pass
antibodies (proteins made by the body to fight disease) to them before birth. Breastfed
babies continue to get more antibodies in breast milk. But in both cases, the protection
is temporary.
Immunization (vaccination) is a way to create immunity to (protection from) some
diseases. This is done by using small amounts of a killed or weakened germ
that causes the disease.
Germs can be viruses (such as the measles virus) or bacteria (such as pneumococcus).
Vaccines stimulate the immune
system to react as if there were a real infection. It fends off the "infection"
and remembers the germ. Then, it can fight the germ if it enters the body later.
What Are the Types of Vaccines?
There are a few different types of vaccines. They include:
- Attenuated (weakened) live viruses are used
in some vaccines such as in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Killed (inactivated) viruses or bacteria are
used in some vaccines, such as in IPV.
- Toxoid vaccines contain an inactivated toxin produced by the
bacterium. For example, the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines are toxoid vaccines.
- Conjugate vaccines (such as Hib) contain parts of bacteria combined
with proteins.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids get combination vaccines
(rather than single vaccines) whenever possible. Many vaccines are offered in combination
to help reduce the number of shots a child receives.
What Vaccines Do Kids Need?
The following vaccinations and schedules
are recommended by the AAP. Some variations are normal, and recommendations change
as new vaccines are developed. Your doctor will talk to you about the right vaccinations
and schedule for your child.
Recommended vaccinations:
Vaccine Concerns
Some parents may hesitate to have their kids vaccinated. They have questions
or worry that a child might have a serious
reaction or get the illness the vaccine prevents. But the components of vaccines
are weakened or killed. In some cases, only parts of the germ are used. So they're
unlikely to cause any serious illness.
Some vaccines may cause mild reactions, such as soreness where the shot was given
or a fever. But serious reactions are rare. The risks of vaccinations are small compared
with the health risks of the diseases they're intended to prevent.
Immunizations are one of the best means of protection against contagious diseases.
Date reviewed: March 2019