EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT VACCINATION

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1 9 QUESTIONS 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT VACCINATION Immunization is an important step that may help protect your child against serious infectious diseases. Whether this is your first child or your fourth, paving the way for your little one s health is very important. It is important that you get your information from credible sources, like your child s healthcare provider. Here are nine questions you should ask your healthcare provider to learn more about vaccination. Some of the answers might just surprise you! 1 HOW DO I KNOW WHICH VACCINES MY CHILD NEEDS AND WHEN TO GET HIM/HER VACCINATED? The CDC recommends a vaccination schedule to help protect children against 14 serious diseases before the age of two. You should talk with your child s healthcare provider about the schedule and confirm which vaccines your child needs. Some vaccines have multiple doses and build strength over time. It is important that you work with your child s healthcare provider to follow the schedule as closely as possible in order to help ensure the best protection for him/her. 1

2 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 2 HOW DO VACCINES WORK? Our immune systems work to fight off infection by building cells that can help find and fight the disease. Vaccines imitate this process before your baby gets sick by helping your baby s immune system develop the ability to recognize and fight the real infection in the future. By receiving all recommended doses, a child s immune system will develop the antibodies shown to help him or her fight disease. 2

3 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 3 ARE VACCINES MONITORED FOR SAFETY? According to the CDC, years of testing are required by law before a vaccine can be licensed. While side effects may occur, once in use, vaccines are continually monitored for safety. Serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions, are not common. Parents should discuss any side effects or concerns with their healthcare provider, and can find more information in the CDC s Parent s Guide to Childhood Immunizations. 4 HOW DO WE KNOW THAT VACCINATION WORKS? According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, most childhood vaccines produce immunity 90 to 100% of the time. In a model used in a population-based study of vaccination and disease rates between 2005 and 2009, when the routine immunization schedule is followed, an estimated 42,000 lives are saved and 20 million cases of disease are prevented throughout the U.S. 3

4 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 5 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MY CHILD TO BE VACCINATED SO EARLY IN LIFE? Vaccine-preventable diseases may be dangerous or even deadly. Children younger than two years of age are among those at a higher risk for vaccine-preventable diseases due to their still-developing immune systems. You may be able to help protect your child from these serious infections through vaccination. 4

5 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 6 WHY DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE VACCINATED IF EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN IMMUNIZED? In 2014 alone, the United States saw 668 cases and 23 outbreaks of measles, a vaccinepreventable disease that was considered to have been eliminated in the United States in Each year, approximately 300 American children die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Recent outbreaks show us that when communities choose not to vaccinate, children and adults are put at risk for serious vaccine-preventable diseases. Community immunity, or herd immunity, occurs when most of a community is immunized against a certain vaccine-preventable disease, providing a significant level of protection for the rest of the community and decreasing the chance of an outbreak. A more effective way to help protect your child from these diseases is through directly vaccinating him or her, rather than relying on the immunity of the community. 5

6 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION WHAT IF MY CHILD IS BEHIND ON HIS OR HER VACCINATION SCHEDULE? If a child misses a scheduled dose, it is important that parents reschedule missed appointments as quickly as possible, so that parents can get their children back on track with the CDC s recommended immunizations. If a child receives less than the recommended dosage, his or her immunity may be lowered during a time of greater risk. Visit the CDC s Web site to find recommended vaccination schedules and other helpful tools to track your child s vaccinations. 6

7 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 8 CAN MY CHILD GET VACCINATED IF I DON T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE? Families without vaccine insurance coverage may be eligible for vaccines at reduced or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program, or VFC. Find more at the CDC s Web site or call 800-CDC-INFO ( ) and ask for the phone number of your state s VFC Coordinator.

8 9 QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT SHOULD ASK THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT VACCINATION 9 HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT VACCINATION? If you have any questions about vaccines or are unsure about whether or not they re right for your child, it s important to talk to your child s doctor right away. More information can be found on the Web sites for the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. PP-PNP-USA Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. May