Children’s immunizations and vaccinations are a long-tested and highly respected way to protect the youngest in our population from the ravages and complications of communicable diseases. Parents often ask about the types of immunizations that are necessary for their child–that is, what diseases they prevent, how are they made, and what are the recommended ages at which your child should receive each immunization.
Let’s address those important questions about your children’s immunizations, and where you can go in Tuckahoe, NY, to get all of the proper vaccinations for your own child.
How Does Immunization Work?
Both adult and childhood vaccinations work by injecting or taking (orally) lab-prepared medications into the patient. These medications boost the body’s natural protection against certain communicable and potentially life-altering and deadly diseases.
Upon exposure to a given vaccine, the person’s bloodstream will immediately begin to manufacture real antibodies against the fake or lowered virus or bacterium. In other words, a vaccine makes the body react as if it had been exposed to a real disease or infection, such as the flu or mumps. However, after the injections, no real overt symptoms develop.
The U.S. government provides medical advice in recommending certain pediatric vaccines at every age. This will limit the number of shots a child undergoes at any given time throughout the course of childhood and early adulthood, and it also maximizes each immunization’s effect.
What Are Vaccines Made Of?
Scientists and the medical establishment classify children’s immunizations into the following types:
- Killed bacteria or viruses (e.g., the varicella-zoster or chickenpox virus)
- Weakened (attenuated) bacteria or viruses
- Toxoid contains the poisons the disease-causing microorganism produces (e.g., the tetanus shot)
- mRNA vaccines, such as for COVID-19, which contain genetic material from the virus
What Diseases Do Vaccines Protect Against?
Children’s immunizations protect against many kinds of severe communicable diseases, including:
- Measles
- Mumps
- Whooping cough
- Chickenpox
- Pneumonia
- Hepatitis
Fortunately, today’s immunizations are considered to be very safe and highly effective. Typical reactions include no more than local site soreness and perhaps a brief, mild fever.
Trusted Pediatricians in Tuckahoe, NY
Most pediatricians, including those at Village Pediatric Group, follow the recommended immunization schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA). These schedules tell providers and parents what vaccines should be administered and at what age.
Here at Village Pediatric Group, our doctors and other healthcare providers support parents in their decisions regarding their children’s health. So, we will explain and provide the most up-to-date diagnostics and treatments for acute and chronic medical conditions, as well as preventive measures. We believe that prevention is critical to your child’s long-term well-being.
If you have any questions about children’s immunizations and the immunization schedule we follow, contact us today by calling our friendly staff at (914) 771-7070 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to taking care of your family!
