Disclaimer: The author of the content below is not a medical professional and does not have any medical training. As such, the contents on this page, including text, graphics, images, and any other material are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our full medical disclaimer can be found by clicking here.
We took James to the pediatrician this morning for a checkup and to get some additional vaccinations. At his first appointment with the pediatrician three weeks ago, James got the first doses of hepatitis B (HepB); diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP); and the Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) vaccines. Today he got the rotavirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and inactivated polio vaccines. The following information about each vaccine was taken from the US Centers for Disease Control website. I have linked each vaccine to their website if you would like further information.
Rotavirus spreads easily among infants and young children. The virus can cause severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Children who get rotavirus disease can become dehydrated and may need to be hospitalized.
Two rotavirus vaccines are currently licensed for infants in the United States:
-
- RotaTeq® (RV5) is given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months
- Rotarix® (RV1) is given in 2 doses at ages 2 months and 4 months
Both of the above vaccines are oral, and not given through a shot. Because James is unable to take anything by mouth, it was given through his G-tube.
I was unaware that there were two vaccines for rotavirus until I started typing this up, so I do not know which one James got.
Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections usually affect children under 5 years of age, but can also affect adults with certain medical conditions. Hib bacteria can cause mild illness, such as ear infections or bronchitis, or they can cause severe illness, such as infections of the bloodstream. Severe Hib infection, also called invasive Hib disease, requires treatment in a hospital and can sometimes result in death.
Before Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to brain damage and deafness.
Hib vaccine is usually given as 3 or 4 doses (depending on brand). Hib vaccine may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine together into one shot).
Infants will usually get their first dose of Hib vaccine at 2 months of age, and will usually complete the series at 12-15 months of age.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly disease. It is caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body).
Polio can be prevented with vaccine. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000. It is given by shot in the arm or leg, depending on the person’s age. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used in other countries.
CDC recommends that children get four doses of polio vaccine. They should get one dose at each of the following ages:
-
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 through 18 months old
- 4 through 6 years old
Almost all children (99 out of 100) who get all the recommended doses of polio vaccine will be protected from polio.
Below is the US Center of Disease Control (CDC) recommended immunization schedule. Note that the schedule below is for 2009. I’m not sure how often the schedule changes, but if you are reading this sometime in the future, this schedule may be different. Please refer to the CDC’s website for the most current schedule, or talk to your doctor.
