Baby Vaccines

Baby Vaccines during Well-Child Visits

Once your baby is born, your pediatrician should work with you on creating a schedule of well-child visits for your baby. These visits will continue periodically throughout his childhood.

The well-child visits serve a couple of purposes. Your child's doctor will want to check his growth and development, including height, weight, tooth development, reflexes, and other milestones that your child will continue to reach for.

Many of these well-child visits will also include your child receiving important vaccines that work to keep him healthy throughout his life. Many once life-threatening childhood diseases have been virtually eradicated because of these vaccinations. Your child should receive the following baby vaccines.

Birth

HepB-Hepatitus B vaccine-This vaccination is given in a series, and your child should receive his first HepB shot in the hospital after birth. Hepatitus B can lead to liver disease or cancer.

Two Months Old

When your child goes back to the doctor for his two month old well-care visit, he'll receive several baby vaccines.

1. HepB-Somewhere between one and four months old, your child will receive his second hepatitus B shot.
2. DTaP-This first in a series of vaccines inocculates your baby against diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Diptheria can lead to lung and heart problems. Tetanus is also referred to as lockjaw, and pertussis is also known as whooping cough.
3. Hib-Hib stands for Haemophilus Influenzae Type b. This disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and other serious diseases.
4. IPV-IPV is the inactivated polio. Once given as an oral vaccination, it is now given as a shot. Polio can lead to paralysis and even death.
5. PCV-This is the vaccine for pneumococcus, which can cause some ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis.

Four Months Old

Your child's next checkup will most likely be set for his four month old birthday. He should receive the following baby vaccines.

1. DTaP
2. Hib
3. IPV
4. PCV

Six Months Old

1. HebB-Your child will receive her third hepititus b vaccine anywhere between six and eighteen months old.
2. DTaP
3. Hib
4. IPV-Your child will receive her third IPV vaccine anywhere between six and eighteen months old.
5. PCV

Twelve to Fifteen Months Old

1. Hib
2. MMR-This is the vaccine to prevent mumps, measles, and rubella. This vaccine is typically given at twelve or fifteen months old.
3. Varicella-This is the chickenpox vaccine. It is typically given anywhere between twelve and eighteen months old.
4. PCV-This can be given at twelve or fifteen months. old.

If you feel that your baby may have missed any of his vaccinations, please contact your pediatrician.

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