Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important

As a parent or caregiver, all you want is for your child to be safe and healthy. Vaccines are a powerful tool in achieving this, protecting your child from serious, even deadly, diseases like hepatitis, polio, tetanus, pertussis, measles and more.

Vaccines also safeguard the wider community. When enough people are vaccinated, it creates "herd immunity," significantly reducing the spread of dangerous diseases from child to child.

Vaccination schedules may seem overwhelming for any parent or caregiver. Dr. Nina Alfieri, Attending Physician in Lurie Children’s Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care Division, explains everything parents need to know about the importance and safety of childhood immunizations.  

What are vaccines and how do they work? 

Vaccines contain tiny, harmless pieces of a virus or bacteria with special markers that help your body recognize them. When your child receives a vaccine, their immune system learns to create specific antibodies. These antibodies act like a trained defense force, ready to recognize and fight off the actual disease if they encounter it later.

If your child is ever exposed to the real virus or bacteria, their body will fight it quickly before the pathogen can multiply and spread, preventing severe illness. This can make any potential illness much milder and protect against serious consequences like long-term harm or even death.

Why should I vaccinate my child?  

Vaccines prepare your child's body to immediately recognize and destroy viruses and bacteria before they can cause severe illness, injury, or death. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable illnesses, including:

• Hepatitis B (can lead to chronic infection and liver cancer)
• Rotavirus (causes a diarrheal illness that can lead to dehydration, hospitalization)
• Diphtheria  
• Tetanus  
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Haemophilus Influenzae B  
• Pneumococcus  
• Poliovirus  
• Influenza (flu)
• Measles  
• Mumps  
• Rubella  
• Varicella (chickenpox)  
• Hepatitis A  
• Meningococcus  
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• COVID-19 

These diseases have two things in common:  

1. They can cause serious illness, injury and death.
2. Crucially, they are preventable with a vaccine.

Are vaccines safe? 

The safety and efficacy of vaccines are rigorously tested. On average, about 15 years of research goes into creating and testing each vaccine. Once developed, it undergoes extensive trials with thousands of volunteers. The risks and benefits are then carefully weighed by panels of independent experts and approved by multiple key organizations before a vaccine becomes available and recommended for patients.

Any medication or treatment can cause a reaction, and vaccines are no exception. However, most children experience no side effects or only minor, temporary ones, such as soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, a mild rash or a low-grade fever that lasts for one to two days.

Serious reactions, like a severe allergic reaction, are extremely rare. If you have any concerns or questions about vaccine safety, please talk with your pediatrician.

What is the vaccination schedule and who makes it? 

The recommended vaccine schedule is updated yearly by a panel of experts from leading health organizations, including: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations. 

At each checkup, your child's provider will discuss which vaccines are due and explain their importance. You can often find detailed information about recommended vaccines for each age at your doctor's office or on official health websites. You can also learn what vaccines are due at each visit here.

How do I keep track of my child’s immunizations? 

 While your doctor’s office tracks your child’s immunization records, here are some helpful tips for parents to stay on top of vaccine schedules:

• Keep your own record: Ask your child's doctor for an immunization record form and store it in a safe place with your family's important documents. This provides a personal backup and ensures you always have the latest information readily available.
• Utilize reminders: Many clinics offer convenient reminder services via phone, email, or text. Make sure they have your current contact information and take advantage of these helpful nudges to stay on top of appointments and vaccine dates.
• Don't panic if a dose is missed: If your child misses an immunization, talk to your pediatrician. For most vaccines, you don't need to start the series over; previous immunizations still count!

Staying on top of your child's immunization schedule might seem like another task on a long list, but it's one of the most important steps you can take to protect their health and the health of those around them. 

Where can I learn more about vaccines? 

For Resources and More Information, please visit:  

• CDC Vaccine Information and Schedules for Parents 
• Healthychildren.org information on Vaccines  
• The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center  

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