Well Child Care & Immunizations

The schedule below is flexible and evolving over time and, therefore, should be used as a guideline only. Children with specific problems will need individualized care. Because we strongly believe in prevention and early detection of problems, annual visits after three years of age are encouraged. We see patients until they graduate from college or until age 21.

IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION

DTaP/TdaP: This vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough.) Serious reactions are very rare due to our use of the accellular pertussis version of the vaccine. It is a five shot series over the first five years of life. Significant cuts, animal bites or puncture wounds, require a tetanus booster if the most recent shot is not within the past five years.

MMR: This vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. A reaction is uncommon but may occur 7-12 days after the shot and consists of a fever, swollen glands or a measles-like rash for a couple of days. It is a two shot series given within the first five years of life.

IPV: This inactivated injectable vaccine protects against polio. Starting in January 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended using only the inactivated polio vaccine as opposed to using the live oral vaccine, which was the standard previously. The reason for the change is that polio has been eradicated in the United States, except for the extremely rare occurrence of the disease caused by the live oral vaccine. In order to prevent even this rare occurrence, the killed injectable vaccine is recommended. The immunization series consists of four shots over the first five years of life.

HIB: This vaccine protects against Hemophilus influenza, a common bacterium which can cause meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis and other infections in children. It is a four shot series spread over the first two years of life.

Prevnar: This vaccine protects against streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that can cause meningitis, pneumonia, ear infections and other infections in children. It is a four shot series spread out over the first two years of life.

Hepatitis B: This vaccine protects against the liver disease Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B vaccine has been available for newborns in Massachusetts since June 1992. It is very safe. We recommend the 3-4 dose course of vaccine which starts with a dose in the newborn nursery.

Hepatitis A: This vaccine protects against the liver disease Hepatitis A. It has recently become a routine vaccination given during the second year of life. It is a two shot series. Side affects are unusual.

Varicella: This live attenuated vaccine protects against chicken pox. Some children will get a mild case of chicken pox (less than 5%) after vaccination. The state requires a routine chicken pox vaccination sometime after the first year of life prior to entering school or day care. A second dose is given at age four. It is not necessary to receive the vaccine if the child has already had chicken pox.

Menactra: This vaccine protects against some causes of bacterial meningitis. It is not a perfect vaccine because it is not protective against all of the strains of bacteria that cause meningitis, but since it can be a deadly disease, we believe the protection that it imparts is very important. It is required for college students living in dorms.

Gardasil: This vaccine protects against four of the strains of human papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It is a three shot series that is strongly recommended but not required. Our office began giving this vaccine in August 2006 after it was well tested in trials. This vaccine is only given to females.

Influenza Vaccine: The “Flu Shot” recommendations and the availability of the immunization change from year to year. It is generally recommended for high-risk children above six months of age. We generally run a series of flu clinics that occur from October through December.

Rotavirus Vaccine: This is a vaccine that protects young children from the diarrhea illness caused by the rotavirus. It is a series of three oral vaccines that must be given before 32 weeks of age.

Pediarix: This is a combination vaccine that includes DTaP (Diptheria/Tetanus/Acellular Pertussis), IPV (inactivated polio), and Hepatitis B. Generally this is given at two, four and six months of age. By using this combined vaccine, we are able to limit the number of injections.
ProQuad: This combination vaccine includes the MMR as well as the chicken pox vaccine.