Vaccines: Essential Immunizations For The First Six Months
Prior to reaching 6 months it is strongly recommended that your child be vaccinated against a number of conditions and viruses ranging from Hepatitis B to polio. The vaccinations come in a series of shots that will be administered by your doctor or pediatrician and are done on a fixed schedule.
Prior to leaving the hospital, whether the mom is Hepatitis-B positive or not, your baby should get the first of three shots to immunize him to Hepatitis-B. Hep-B is a virus of the liver and causes inflammation which can be either acute or chronic. Within a month your baby will be due for his second shot and he will require the third and final shot between 8 and 16 months.
Before a baby reaches his second month the real process begins. The series of shots can in some cases be combined but most exist on a pre-set schedule. At the 2 month marker your baby will begin the shots for DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough), Hib (haemophilus influenza type b), IPV (inactivated poliovirus), or the polio vaccine, PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) also called Prevnar and the vaccine for Rotavirus.
Most of these confusing terms are more commonly known to the general public as polio, influenza, pneumonia, bacterial meningitis and severe diarrhea. These diseases have a long history of causing epidemics throughout the world and can still wreak havoc in underdeveloped nations and in babies that are not properly vaccinated. Early vaccination is essential because these diseases are most likely to occur when a child is very young and the risk of complications is greatest. Many people falsely assume that since these diseases have been vaccinated against that somehow their child is automatically immune. They aren’t until they have a full set of vaccination shots.
At four months your child will need his second shots for DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV and Rotavirus. If for any reason you child has missed a vaccination shot don’t worry. Simply ask your doctor or pediatrician about a catch up vaccines and they will provide you with a way to get your child back on schedule.
By the sixth month your child will be ready for the third shots for DTaP, Hib, PCV and the final rotavirus shot. The third shot for the polio vaccine won’t come until a little later in the child’s development.