According to the Association Of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), immunization is one of the most cost-effective means for disease prevention.

There are three common questions that come to mind when thinking about vaccinating your child.

It is better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs. On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before a child is exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. ​

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among children born between 1994 and 2018, vaccination will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 deaths over their lifetimes. ​
• The CDC provides a recommended immunization schedule that is designed to protect children from 14 potentially serious diseases before their second birthday.
• 91% of children aged 19-35 months have received the Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccination in the United States. ​
• 70.4% of children aged 19-35 months have received the Combined 7-vaccine series in the United States (DTaP, Polio, MMR, Hep B, Hib, Varicella, and Pneumococcal conjugate).

Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease. A child’s immune system recognizes germs that enter the body as “foreign invaders” and produces antibodies to fight them. The first time a child is infected, the immune system learns to produce antibodies designed to fight the infection. This process takes time and may cause sickness. Vaccines act as the immunity and help produce antibodies that lead to immunity protection without having to get sick. Through vaccination, children and adults can develop immunity without suffering from the actual diseases that vaccines prevent.​

• Child Vaccine Schedules

  To promote health and prevent disease, CDC publishes written recommendations for vaccinating US children and adults. These recommendations are set to protect infants, children, adolescents, and adults against vaccine-preventable diseases. Following is 2020 recommended vaccinations schedules for infants and children (birth through 6 years) parent-friendly version.

• Teen Vaccine Schedules

  ​To promote health and prevent disease, CDC publishes written recommendations for vaccinating US children and adults. These recommendations are set to protect infants, children, adolescents, and adults against vaccine-preventable diseases. Following is 2020 recommended vaccinations schedules for children (7 – 18 years old) parent-friendly version. ​

• Travel abroad

  ​If you are planning to travel abroad, it is important to plan ahead and schedule the shots required for all countries that you and your family plan to visit.

  Visiting another country can put you and your child at risk for diseases that may not normally be found in the United States.

  Getting vaccinated against certain diseases is one of the most effective things you can do to protect your health abroad. ​

  Vaccinate at least a month before you travel. This is recommended because your body needs time to build up immunity, and some vaccines may require several doses.

  There may also be a limited number of clinics where you can get specific vaccines, so planning ahead is important.