What Vaccines Do Newborns Get

How Long Vaccines Take To Work

It usually takes a few weeks for vaccines to work. Your child will not be protected immediately.

Also, most vaccines need to be given several times to build up long-lasting protection. For example, a child who gets only 1 or 2 doses of the whooping cough vaccine is only partly protected. They may still catch whooping cough if the course is not completed.

Get These Vaccinations Before Cuddling A Newborn

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Vaccines and Boosters: ?

While youve anxiously been getting ready for the arrival of your baby, you might have forgotten one of the most important items to ensure their safety: getting vaccinated.

All parents, grandparents, caretakers and anyone else in your family who plan on spending time with your new bundle of joy should make sure their vaccinations are up to date.

Most newborns who catch preventable infections, such as whooping cough and influenza, caught them from inside the home. If someone in the household has a respiratory illness, other members are at risk for getting ill too. Researchers have identified siblings and parents as the most common source of preventable diseases, such as whooping cough infection in young infants, as well as grandparents, caregivers and friends of the family.

Newborns dont yet have fully developed immune systems, making them particularly vulnerable to infections, said Ruben Espinoza, MD, a pediatrician with Banner Health Clinic. When you get vaccinated, you are not only protecting your own health, but you are also helping form a protective barrier around the baby during their first few months of life when they are not yet fully protected.

If you plan on being around the new baby, Dr. Espinoza broke down the two most important vaccinations to get and when:

When Do Infants And Children Need Vaccines

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Who Is Eligible For Booster Shots

COVID-19 booster shot eligibility varies based on age and the primary vaccine you received . Here’s the latest guidance from the CDC.

Pfizer: For Pfizer, anyone 16 and up can get a booster shot adults 18 years and older should get it. For both age groups, the booster is recommended at least 6 months after completion of the primary vaccination series.

Moderna: Everyone 18 and up who received Moderna is eligible for a booster. It should be given at least 6 months after completion of the primary vaccination series.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen: Adults 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster shot, which is recommended at least 2 months after the initial vaccine.

What Do You Suggest Expecting Parents Do If Family Members Are Hesitantor Outright Refuseto Get Vaccinated

I personally take a strong stanceif a family member is not willing to get vaccinated, I dont let them near my children until my kids have been adequately vaccinated and are a bit older .

The issue of vaccines should be brought up the same way that an expecting parent speaks to family members about other illnesses.

Just as you would ask them to wash their hands, check themselves for signs/symptoms of illness , anyone wanting to be close to a newborn should be willing to vaccinate themselves against infections that could seriously harm the baby.

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When To Delay Vaccinating

Although the Hepatitis B Foundation stresses that parents should not voluntarily delay vaccinating their babies against hepatitis B, there are situations in which doctors may choose to delay the vaccination.

For instance, sometimes the hepatitis B vaccination is delayed if a baby is premature, has a low birth weight, or is medically challenged.

The CDC’s report, Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, says that all healthy newborns who weigh more than 4.4 pounds should receive the hepatitis B vaccination.

Still, parents always have the option to refuse a vaccination if they want to. But the risks associated with a hepatitis B infection far outweigh the risks of the vaccine.

Why Babies Should Get The Flu Shot

Young children who catch the flu get pneumonia at higher rates than older kids and can become dehydrated more easily. They may also develop ear infections, sinus problems, and a worsening of conditions like asthma or heart disease.

Since 2010, flu-related complications have led to 7,000 to 26,000 hospitalizations per flu season in children younger than 5 years old, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention . The flu can also cause death in rare cases. Indeed, the CDC estimates that between 130 and 1,200 children have died from the flu each year since 2010.

Vaccinated babies have a decreased chance of contracting the flu. And if they do catch influenza, the flu shot can make the illness less severe, which decreases the risk of hospitalization and death.

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What Are The Covid

In general, COVID-19 booster shots have the same formulation as the primary vaccines. The exception is Moderna, whose booster shot comprises half the dose. So far, side effects appear similar to those of the primary vaccine series, and the most common reactions are pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and fever.

The CDC studied 22,191 people who received a booster shot from August 12 to September 19, 2021. The majority received the same booster shot as their primary vaccines. After analyzing self-reported health check-ins, the CDC found that 71 percent experienced injection site pain, 56 percent reported fatigue, and 43.4 had a headache. Also, approximately 28.3 percent were unable to perform daily activities, “most commonly on the day after vaccination,” says the CDC.

Serious side effects from COVID vaccines are extremely rare learn more about them on the CDC website.

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Should I Be Worried About The Increasing Number Of Vaccines Recommended For Children

No. Because of advances in science and manufacturing, it is easier than in the past to be sure that vaccines are highly pure. Vaccines represent only a minor stimulation of the infant immune system compared to the large number of potentially dangerous bacteria and viruses babies routinely encounter: starting immediately after a baby is born thousands of different bacteria begin to live on the skin and the lining of the nose, throat, and intestines. The babys immune system rapidly launches immune responses to these bacteria that prevent them from invading the blood stream.

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Bc’s Routine Vaccine Schedule For Infants And Young Children

2 month vaccines

At 2 months of age, your child should receive the following vaccines:

At 4 months of age, your child should receive the following vaccines:

At 6 months of age, your child should receive the following vaccines:

At 18 months of age, your child should receive the following vaccines:

Vaccines starting at 4 years

Starting at 4 years of age, your child should receive the following vaccines:

Annual influenza vaccination for children 6 months and older

It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a yearly influenza vaccination with rare exception.

Newborn Vaccines Your Baby Needs

Is your baby protected from vaccine-preventable diseases? Here’s the newborn vaccine schedule recommended by the CDC and AAP for your baby’s first months of life.

Your baby will be given a handful of vaccines and supplements in the first months of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the carefully-planned childhood vaccine schedule. Following the schedule in the coming months and years will put your infant on track for life-long immunity to dangerous diseases.

The vaccines recommended for your young baby are closely monitored by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness. Here are the vaccines that your baby will receive from birth through two months.

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What Are The Side Effects Of Vaccines

It is possible for any vaccine to cause side effects. Common side effects include a mild fever and pain or redness at the injection site. Most babies and children experience only mild side effects, if any.

Possible vaccine side effects include:

• Fever
• Soreness or redness at the injection site
• Swelling
• Headache
• Chills

Serious side effects are rare and must be treated right away. Seek emergency medical care if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• High fever over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
• Nonstop crying for over three hours

Hepatitis B Vaccine Schedules

The newborn hepatitis vaccine is part of a three-dose series that begins at the hospital after birth and continues with pediatrician visits.

When it comes to vaccinating newborns, there are two schedules that can be followedone for babies of moms who have hepatitis B and one for babies where it is unknown or the mother had a negative hepatitis B blood test. The CDC, however, recommends the following vaccination schedule for all children.

The Hepatitis B Foundation recommends the following vaccination schedule for moms who have hepatitis B and their newborns. They stress that babies with moms who test positive for hepatitis B receive the vaccine as well as 0.5 milliliters of hepatitis B immune globulin .

Here is an overview of the schedules they recommend when moms test positive for hepatitis B. One schedule is similar to the CDC’s schedule and the other uses combination vaccines. Talk to your baby’s pediatrician to determine what schedule they plan to follow.

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When Can Babies Get The Flu Shot

Babies younger than 6 months can’t receive the flu vaccine because their immune systems aren’t strong enough yet. Those older than 6 months should get the flu shot every season to prevent health complications and spreading the illness to others.

So when is the best time to get it? Because flu season strengthens in the fall and winterand because it takes two to four weeks to build effectivenessthe CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine by the end of October. However, getting the vaccine later still protects against the illness.

Will Kids Need Covid

It’s possible that younger children will become eligible for the booster shots in the future . Part of the reason boosters haven’t approved for kids under 16 years old yet, according to Dr. Amin, is that they got the go-ahead for vaccination more recently than adults and older adolescents. “Everything has to happen based on when the clinical trials happened,” says Dr. Amin.

Experts are currently analyzing whether immunity wears off over time in kids, as it does with adults. They’re also determining if and when booster shots might benefit younger children.

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Will Booster Shots Protect Against Coronavirus Variants

Researchers are studying whether booster shots are effective against different strains of COVID-19, such as the new Omicron variant that’s been spreading around the world, says Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with the Allergy and Asthma Network and co-investigator on the vaccine trials. But so far, data looks promising, and preliminary research shows that Pfizer offers some protection against Omicron.

It’s also important to note that scientists should be able to tweak the vaccine over time so it’s more effective against future variants that might emerge, reports The New York Times.

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What Is A Vaccination Schedule

A vaccination schedule is a plan with recommendations for which vaccines your children should get and when they should get them. Vaccines are one of the most important ways to prevent children from getting some dangerous diseases. By exposing you to a germ in a controlled way, vaccines teach your body to recognize and fight it.

Government vaccine recommendations are just that — recommendations. You arent forced to get them. But state laws require your kids to have certain vaccines before they can go to daycare, school, or college, with some exceptions. Vaccines protect not just your child, but everyone they come in contact with. The more people who get vaccinated, the harder it is for a disease to spread.

Before theyre approved for use and added to the schedule, vaccines go through years of testing to make sure they work and that theyre safe. The government keeps track of any reports of side effects to make sure no problems come up.

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Importance Of Vaccines For Infant And Toddlers

For newborns, breast milk can help protect against many diseases. However, this immunity wears off after breastfeeding is over, and some children arent breastfed at all.

Whether or not children are breastfed, vaccines can help protect them from disease. Vaccines can also help prevent the spread of disease through the rest of the population through herd immunity.

Vaccines work by imitating infection of a certain disease in your childs body. This prompts your childs immune system to develop weapons called antibodies.

These antibodies fight the disease that the vaccine is meant to prevent. With their body now primed to make antibodies, your childs immune system can defeat future infection from the disease. Its an amazing feat.

Community Immunity And Disease Prevention

The more people who are vaccinated in the community, the lower the risk of infection for those who:

• aren’t vaccinated
• developed only partial immunity from the vaccine

This means that when your child is vaccinated, you protect them as well as those around them.

Community immunity helps protect those at high risk of developing disease and severe complications or death, such as:

• adults 65 years of age and older
• infants and children too young to be fully vaccinated
• people with health conditions that affect their immune system, such as those undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer

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Are There Any Reasons Not To Vaccinate My Child Especially During The Covid

Yes. There are times when some children should not get certain vaccines or they should wait. For example, if your child has any severe, life-threatening allergies, theyve had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of vaccines, or theyre moderately or severely ill, their doctor may recommend not getting or delaying a specific vaccination.

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, you dont need to delay the immunizations or care your child needs unless of course you, your child or someone in your household is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

While staying on track with all immunizations is important, making sure your child has their annual flu shot will be especially important this year. As the pandemic continues, so too will the high amounts of time we spend at home and indoors where flu viruses can thrive during cold and dry winter weather. Flu shots are typically available starting in late August, and this year HealthPartners and Park Nicollet is offering both shot and FluMist options.

Why Do Children Get So Many Vaccinations

A number of vaccinations are required in the first few years of a childs life to protect them against some of the most serious childhood infectious diseases. The immune system in young children does not work as well as the immune system in older children and adults, because it is still immature. Therefore, more doses of the vaccine are needed.

Another reason children get many vaccinations is that new vaccines against serious infections continue to be developed. The number of injections is reduced by the use of combination vaccines, where several vaccines are combined into one injection.

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