There are many ways to help keep your child healthy. Frequent handwashing, covering the mouth during coughing or sneezing, and getting plenty of rest are all excellent ways to maintain good health. In addition to these everybday habits, one of the best, and also the easiest ways to prevent the spread of disease is making sure your child is current on all immunizations.
Immunizations are a critical tool to prevent serious diseases like the flu, meningitis, hepatitis, and many others. Thanks to immunizations, diseases like polio have been virtually wiped out. Here at Pediatric Associates of Davidson County in Nashville, TN, our team of pediatricians offers a full range of children’s healthcare services, including immunizations to help your child stay healthy—read on to learn more!
How vaccinations keep your child healthy
There is a lot of false information out there about vaccines. Simply put, vaccines are one of the most important tools used today to keep your child safe from serious diseases. If you are concerned about any potential side effects, rest assured that each immunization is rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness before being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In addition to greatly boosting the health of your child, immunizations are also often required for your child to attend daycare or school. When your child is current on immunizations, it protects your child, you, your family, your child’s teachers, and your child’s friends from acquiring infectious, contagious diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes their recommendations for childhood immunizations from birth to 18 years old:
- (Hep B) Hepatitis B
- (Dtap) Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
- (Hib) Haemophilus influenza type B
- (IPV) Polio
- (PCV13) Pneumococcal conjugate
- (RV) Rotavirus
- (MMR) Measles, mumps, rubella
- (Varicella) Chickenpox
- (HepA) Hepatitis A
- (HPV) Human papillomavirus
- (MCV4) Meningococcal conjugate
- (Influenza) Flu
You can view or print out this list by clicking on this link:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
Time for your child's next checkup?
You want to do everything you can to keep your child healthy, and immunizations are a vitally important part of your child’s healthcare. To learn more about immunizations and how they can help your child, talk with the experts. Call the pediatricians here at Pediatric Associates of Davidson County in Nashville, TN, today at (615) 329-3595.
