What are immunizations?
Immunizations (vaccinations) are injections that offer protection from infectious diseases. Immunization refers to the process of being vaccinated and eventually developing immunity to the disease over time.
Immunizations are an important part of your child’s preventive care. Your Southern Nevada Pediatric Center provider can help you determine whether your child is due for a shot and devise an immunization plan so you can keep track.
Immunizations use dead or weakened versions of viruses or bacteria to prepare the body to fight an infection without exposing your child to the symptoms of the disease. The goal is to prompt the immune system to produce white blood cells (lymphocytes) and certain proteins (antibodies) to fight the foreign invaders.
Why would my child or teen need immunizations?
All immunizations are recommended based on a number of factors, such as:
- Prior immunizations
- Age
- Health
- Occupation
- Sexual activity
- Lifestyle
Immunizations for infants, children, and teens are carefully dosed.
In some cases, your Southern Nevada Pediatric Center provider might recommend some immunizations based on your travel destinations.
If a certain virus or disease, such as the flu or measles, is prevalent in your local communities, it’s best to get the recommended immunizations to help prevent your child from contracting the disease or virus.
Which immunizations should children get?
The right immunizations for your child largely depend on their health conditions, age, travel habits, lifestyle, and other factors. Some of the immunizations generally recommended for children by the American Academy of Pediatrics are:
- Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
- Hepatitis vaccines (HepA and HepB)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
- Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR)
- Polio vaccine (IPV)
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Influenza vaccine
- Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV)
- Meningococcal vaccines
For convenience, some immunizations can be administered collectively in groups.
What are the benefits of immunizations?
Immunizations can decrease your risk of infectious diseases and protect your child by helping, improving, and strengthening their immune system.
Some immunizations, such as the flu vaccine, are recommended for most people because the flu can be life-threatening, particularly for infants and younger children, older people, and those with certain chronic illnesses.
Immunizations provide a plethora of benefits and are a great way to defend against deadly and infectious viruses. For most children, immunizations are a safe and effective preventive care option.
For more information, call the Southern Nevada Pediatric Center office or schedule an appointment online.
