Keeping your baby's shots up to
date is a very important factor to your baby's health. She will be given
several vaccinations from her birth and these will continue into her childhood.
Since immunizations were introduced, they have saved hundreds of thousands of
children's lives. The simple procedure of injecting your baby with vaccines,
protects her against serious, and sometimes fatal, diseases. These
immunizations are usually given during routine checkup visits to your doctor
or clinic.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies receive the following vaccinations (health providers typically use the initials when they talk about these immunizations):
- Haemophilus
Influenzae Type b (Hib)
- Inactivated
polio (IPV)
- Measles,
mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
- Pneumococcal
(PCV)
- Hepatitis
B (HepB)
- Influenza
(flu)
- Varicella
(chickenpox)
Immunizations are routine procedural shots that can keep your child healthy for a lifetime. Many of the immunizations are for diseases that frequently are seen in the early years of a child's life and others will prevent your baby from getting particular illnesses over the course of their
entire life. Although the experience of getting these vaccinations is not usually pleasant for the baby (they typically involve getting injection via hypodermic
needle), they're well worth it for the protection your child will receive in the long run.
The diseases these vaccinations protect your baby from are very serious. Babies may be come very ill and even die if they are allowed to develop the diseases that are revented by these shots. Your doctor or health care clinic will notify you when it is time for your baby's first shot, which generally occurs at three months.
Babies are born with some degree of pre-determined natural immunity. This is acquired in the womb from the
mother's blood. This immunity is further strengthened during breastfeeding (breast milk is rich in antibodies, among other things). However, this type of immunity is passive and wears off during the baby's first year, thus leaving her open to several diseases. This is why vaccines are so important.
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