The importance of immunizations

Childhood immunizations are one of the most important safeguards against communicable diseases and their serious, long-term complications. Your pediatrician closely adheres to the vaccination schedules published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Why? Well, there's nothing more important than your youngster's health and well-being, and immunizations effectively guard them.

Just what is an immunization?

Most immunizations are given as "shots," or injections, but some, such as the Rotavirus vaccine, are oral medications. However administered, vaccines boost your child's immune system in its battle against diseases which easily spread from person to person.

Each vaccine contains a small amount of a killed or weakened micro-organisms. These altered viruses or bacteria raise the body's defenses against a particular illness such as chicken pox. pneumonia, polio, tetanus, and more...up to 14 in all by time your child is two years old, says the CDC.

Are immunizations necessary?

Your pediatrician, his or her colleagues and decades of research prove that vaccines protect the health of individual children and of the community at large. Also called herd immunity, community immunity works best when as many babies and youngsters receive all their "shots" on schedule. Community immunity protects youngsters who cannot receive vaccines because of cancer treatment, HIV infection or other serious reason. It also shields the general population when people travel from countries which cannot provide access to these important medications.

Both the AAP and the CDC publish and recommend set vaccine schedules carried out at well-baby and well-child visits at the doctor's office. In addition, there is a "catch-up" schedule for children who have begun their immunizations late or had them interrupted by illness or other serious concern.

Your pediatrician's services

They're so important. Your child's doctor keeps your child's immunization records and can distribute them to schools, camps, college, sports, daycare and other organizations who require proof of up-to-date vaccines. The doctor also monitors your child for any adverse reactions, although typically, vaccines produce no more than:

• Localized redness and soreness at the injection site
• Low grade fever
• Pain and swelling
• Fussiness

Make sure your child is staying up-to-date on their vaccinations.

The last thing you want is for your child to get sick. While we can’t always prevent them from catching a cold from a classmate or developing an ear infection, there certainly are precautions you can take to protect your little one from some serious life-threatening illnesses. Dr. Benjamin Valdez's pediatric office in Roseville is filled with experts on child health care; read below for a rundown on how vaccinations will protect your child, and contact Dr. Valdez for to schedule an appointment.

What vaccines should my child get?

Your child’s immunization schedule will depend on their health and when vaccines become available. Of course, the moment your child is born you should already have an appointment scheduled for your little one’s first trip to see their Roseville, CA, pediatrician. From birth, your child will continue to come in regularly for vaccines until the age of 18. The CDC provides a helpful chart to make it easy to stay up-to-date on your child’s immunization schedule.

Of course, there are other immunizations that your child may receive that aren’t on the list. For example, it’s important that babies over the age of 6 months get an annual flu shot. Since babies under this age cannot get a flu shot, it is important that everyone else in the family gets inoculated to protect the newborn from getting the flu.

Why does my child need to get vaccinated so young?

As you might imagine, newborns and babies are at an increased risk for serious infections because their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet. This means that their immune systems aren’t strong enough to fight off a lot of these infections. By keeping up-to-date on your child’s vaccines, you can protect them before they are ever exposed to some of these potentially life-threatening diseases.

Call today!

Here at Professional Pediatrics in Roseville, CA, we are dedicated to making sure your little one gets the proper medical care they deserve to protect them from a variety of illnesses. Call us today at (916) 773-5577 to schedule your child’s next checkup.

Cold Vs. Flu

Is it a cold or the flu? When it comes to your child's health, your pediatrician provides great information and guidance on the most common illnesses plaguing families. If you are wondering about the exact nature of your child's illness and how to treat it, learn the differences between a cold and the flu and how to treat and prevent them.

What is a cold?

A cold is an upper respiratory viral infection lasting 5 to 7 days in both adults and children alike. Generally milder in intensity and shorter in duration than influenza, a cold causes:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• A runny nose
• Tiredness
• Low-grade fever