Prentice Women's Hostpital

Immunizations - for Your Children and for You

Why are vaccines important?

It’s back to school time, which, for many families, means a visit to the doctor for immunizations. Immunizations are a fact of life for nearly every child living in the United States. Although many diseases that vaccines prevent have been nearly eradicated in the United States, it’s still important to be vaccinated to prevent a resurgence of disease. Within the last ten years, there have been recent outbreaks of Measles , Mumps, Rubella (German Measles), Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and many other diseases in the U.S.

When parents fail to have their children immunized, there is a risk that many diseases once all but eliminated in the United States will again become an epidemic, which is why vaccines are so important. For more information about the importance of vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Web site. Although some parents fear the potential of negative side effects from vaccine administration, vaccines are very safe, and they prevent horrible diseases that can be debilitating and even deadly. If you’re concerned about vaccine safety, read more information from the CDC. The CDC has also written an article entitled “What Would Happen if We Stopped Immunizations?” It’s a good source of information for parents who are concerned about the diseases and the immunizations.

CDC and AAP recommendations

The federal government recommends, and sometimes requires, that children be given the following immunizations:

  • Hepatitis B vaccine (HepB)
  • Rotavirus vaccine (Rota) (for the prevention of a common diarrheal virus)
  • Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acelluar pertussis vaccine (DTaP) (for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough)
  • Haemophilus influenza type b conjugate vaccine (Hib)
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide (for prevention of pneumonia – varying populations)
  • Inactivated Poliovirus
  • Influenza (for prevention of the flu)
  • Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR)
  • Varicella vaccine
  • Hepatitis A vaccine (HepA)
  • Meningococcal (for prevention of meningitis, especially for those at high risk)

The Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations for children’s vaccinations change frequently, so remember to check back regularly or ask your child’s/children’s pediatrician. You can view the schedule for children 0 to 6 years old or children seven to 18 years old. There is also a catch up schedule for children who are behind on their immunizations. Information is also available on the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site.

If you are looking for a pediatrician at Northwestern Memorial and would like to make an appointment for your child for the first time, contact our Physician Referral line at (877) 926-4664 or request an appointment online.

 

Adults need immunizations too

Did you know that many adults should be immunized as well? There are new vaccination recommendations for diseases adults may not have been vaccinated against, and some adults also lose their immunity through the years. Some vaccinations are new and may only need to be given once, and some should be repeated annually to every five to ten years. The Centers for Disease Control has a recommended vaccine schedule by vaccine and adult age group that is regularly updated.

Which vaccines should adults get?

The vaccines adults should receive depend on many factors, including age, gender, risk for disease, and evidence of immunity. For example, only women under the age of 27 are currently recommended for the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and men and women over the age of 60 should get the Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination unless they have conditions that make vaccination innappropriate. Also, certain populations should get the influenza vaccine annually. Some physicians even recommend it for all of their patients once they reach a certain age (6 months). Below is the list of recommended vaccines as of August, 2008:

  • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap)
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella
  • Influenza (for prevention of the flu)
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide (for prevention of pneumonia – varying populations)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Meningococcal (for prevention of meningitis, especially for those at high risk)
  • Zoster (for prevention of Shingles, over age 60)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are many strains of HPV, and 15 are considered high-risk. In 2006, the for the preFDA approved a vaccinevention of cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV. Though it doesn’t protect against all strains of HPV, it is highly recommended, and it is currently approved for use in girls and women ages nine to 26. The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a provisional recommendation for the HPV vaccine. If you have questions about whether the vaccine is right for your daughter, contact your physician. If you would like more information about HPV and cervical cancer, visit our cervical cancer page.

If you need a physician for your daughter, and you’d like to bring her to Northwestern Memorial, contact our Physician Referral line at (877) 926-4664 or request an appointment online.

Traveling

If you travel outside the United States, you should learn about the diseases you might encounter and how you can prevent them. It’s best to schedule a visit with your doctor four to six weeks before your trip, because most vaccines take time to become effective in your body, and some vaccines must be administered on more than one visit. If you’ve forgotten to schedule a visit, and your trip is less than four weeks away, you should still see your doctor. You may still benefit from shots or medications, and your doctor can give you information about how to protect yourself from illness while traveling and plan for safe and healthy travel. If you have questions about travel medicine or necessary vaccines, please visit the Northwestern Memorial Physician’s Group Travel and Immunization Center site or call the Travel Center at (312) 926-3155.

More information about vaccines

Contact

If you are looking for a physician at Northwestern Memorial and would like to make an appointment for the first time, contact our Physician Referral line at (877) 926-4664 or request an appointment online.