You make sure your child wears a seatbelt in the car. You remind your child to put on a helmet before riding a bike. You wouldn’t hesitate to give your child antibiotics to treat an ear infection or strep throat.
All of these measures help keep your child safe and healthy and help prevent serious complications.
Think of vaccines the same way: An essential tool to keep your child as safe and healthy as possible.
As a board-certified pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente, I talk about vaccines with families on a regular basis. My message is consistent: Vaccines are safe and effective and play a vital role in keeping your child healthy and in protecting our families and communities.
Questions from Parents about Vaccines
There are a few questions that parents tend to ask me about vaccines:
Can my baby’s immune system handle these vaccines?
Yes! Vaccines give the immune system instructions on how to respond to a foreign invader – an infection. Your baby’s immune system needs vaccines to learn how to ward off infection.
Is it safe for my child to receive several vaccines at the same time?
The recommended immunization schedule was developed to ensure that the right vaccines are administered to children at the right age and at the right time. Most babies’ immune systems can handle multiple vaccines at once. Your child’s doctor will tell you which ones should be given when. Research also shows that receiving many vaccines at once doesn’t cause more side effects than getting them at separate appointments.
Do childhood vaccines cause autism?
No. Many, many studies have shown there is no link between autism and vaccinations.
What Vaccines Do Children Need?
Infants, toddlers, young children and teens all need vaccines. Your doctor will guide your family at each age and stage so you know which vaccines are needed when. Here is a snapshot of some vaccines your child might receive:
MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella):
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and very effective: Two doses provide lifelong immunity for 98% of vaccinated people. The first dose is given at 12-15 months of age. The second dose is given at 4-6 years of age. If your child is younger than 12 months and you are traveling abroad, talk to your doctor about whether your child can be vaccinated before their first birthday. Measles is a very contagious and infectious disease that can cause severe complications in unvaccinated people.
Varicella Vaccine (Chickenpox):
Many parents reading this may have had varicella, or chickenpox, as a child. Now, we have a vaccine to prevent that itchy, contagious rash. The first dose is given at 12-15 months of age. A booster dose is given at 4-6 years of age. The varicella vaccine prevents most cases of chickenpox. In kids who are vaccinated and still get chickenpox, symptoms are usually mild.
HPV Vaccine:
Human papillomavirus is an extremely contagious virus with about 200 different strains. A few of these strains are responsible for most HPV infections. HPV can cause at least six types of cancers: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal and cancers of the throat. Children can start the vaccine series at age 9. Only two doses are needed if given before age 15. If starting the vaccine series after 15, three doses are needed. Your child’s doctor can discuss the dosing schedule with you. I have heard from some parents that they are concerned that having their preteen or teen vaccinated for HPV may lead to teenage sex. I remind parents that the vaccine itself does not influence teen behavior, but it can prevent cancer.
Meningococcal Vaccine:
This vaccine prevents meningococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis. Meningitis, or inflammation of the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, is a very serious bacterial illness that can cause serious infection and hospitalization in the ICU, with lasting side effects and even death. Fortunately, the meningococcal vaccine is great at preventing this condition. We recommend the first dose be given at age 11 and a booster at age 16.
Flu Vaccine:
Children ages 6 months and older should have a flu vaccine every year, ideally before the start of flu season. September and October are great times to get the flu shot. The flu vaccine may help prevent flu. If your vaccinated child still gets the flu, symptoms may be milder with the immunization than without.
COVID-19 Vaccine:
The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. Your child’s doctor can discuss the right schedule for your kid.
This is not a complete list of all childhood vaccines but is a sampling of some of some important vaccines we have available to protect our children from disease. Your child’s doctor is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about any vaccine.
Mutsa Nyakabau, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician at the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. He sees patients at the Kaiser Permanente Ashburn Medical Center.
Mutsa Nyakabau, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician at the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. He sees patients at the Kaiser Permanente Ashburn Medical Center.
