Vaccinations

DTaP
The DTaP shot protects against 3 different illnesses. These include Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (whooping cough). All three diseases cause breathing problems which can lead to death. The "a" stands for acellular, and this newer formulation of vaccine causes fewer side effects of fever and fussiness than the older vaccine. This is a series of 5 shots.

IPV
This vaccination protects against polio disease, which causes paralysis and death. The inactivated polio vaccination is now routinely given in the United States immunization schedule. The former vaccine was called OPV for oral polio vaccine.  There is no risk of acquiring polio disease from the newer inactivated vaccine. This is a series of 4 shots.

Prevnar
This vaccination protects against serious diseases caused by the bacteria Strep pneumoniae. These include meningitis, pneumonia, sinus and ear infections. It was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2000 and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in June 2000. It is a series of 4 shots beginning at 2 months of age. Side effects are minimal, and include fever, crankiness, and redness at the injection site.

MMR
This vaccine protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (German measles). Measles disease causes a rash, but can also cause pneumonia, seizures, and death. Mumps disease causes swollen glands in the jaws, hearing loss, and meningitis. German measles disease causes mild infection in children. However, if an un-immunized pregnant women gets the disease, it causes the fetus to have mental retardation, deafness, and blindness.

Because this a "live-attenuated" vaccine, some children with immune defects cannot be immunized. This is a series of 2 shots.

Side effects commonly seen are fever and or a measles like rash 1-2 weeks after vaccination.

Varicella
This vaccine protects against the chickenpox. Chickenpox disease causes a rash, but can also cause pneumonia, brain damage, and death.

The vaccine has significantly reduced the number of cases and severity of chickenpox disease since its introduction in 1995. The vaccine is given one time to children at 1 year of age who have not had the disease. It is required for school entry at any age in the State of Texas. So, if you have a child born before 1995 who has not had chickenpox, he will also need to be vaccinated.  There is currently a provisional recommendation for a booster  varicella dose at 4 years of age and greater.

RotaTeq
This is a new vaccine developed to prevent disease with Rotavirus, a frequent cause of vomiting and diarrhea in infants.  Many infants every year are admitted for dehydration and the complications of Rotavirus. Large scale studies were done to demonstrate the safety of this vaccine, since the previous vaccine developed had some rare complications.

This vaccine is only available to infants starting around 2 months of age. The vaccine has strict guidelines, so if a dose is missed, your child may not be able to complete the series.