Measles outbreaks and anti-vaccination controversy have been prominent in the media in recent weeks, so it’s an ideal time to review the importance of childhood immunizations.

Vaccinations protect children against diseases such as polio, measles, rubella (commonly known as German measles), pertussis (whooping cough), diptheria, and tetanus, which have the potential to cause serious illness — even death.

Vaccinations stimulate an immune response in a child’s body so that when they are exposed to the disease, they will not get sick. The vaccines children receive are a weakened or inactive form of the disease, called an antigen. This antigen does not cause illness but spurs the body to produce antibodies to fight that disease.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of The Centers for Disease Control recommends a complete series of vaccinations in infancy. This regimen includes four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine; three doses of polio vaccine; one dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine; three to four doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib); three doses of hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine; one dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine; four doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); and two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine. The rotavirus vaccine is given in early infancy as well to protect against a serious viral diarrheal illness.

At age 4 to 6, children receive additional booster doses of MMR, varicella, polio and DTaP vaccines to ensure continued immunity. Children of middle school age receive vaccinations to protect against meningococcal strains ACYW infection and human papillomavirus as well as a booster for tetanus, diptheria and pertussis. A booster for meningococcal vaccine is administered at age 16 or 17.  An additional protective vaccine is given before college that protects against meningococcal B infection.
This vaccine is mostly recommended for young adults living in close quarters with others, such as in college dormitories or armed service barracks.

Annual influenza vaccine is also recommended for all children older than six months.

Parents may worry that their son or daughter may get sick after being vaccinated. While children may have some minor side effects such as fever or soreness at the injection site, or a local rash, they will not develop the disease from the vaccine.

If a child has a prolonged fever or seems unusually ill, parents should contact their physician, as these may be symptoms of another illness.

It is important that youngsters receive complete immunization to ensure that they are protected from disease. Delaying vaccines puts children at risk for infection, especially during infancy. Being vaccinated also protects others, including very young infants who have not completed the series, and individuals who have compromised immune systems such as children and adults who are being treated for cancer, or the elderly.

There is no proven scientific evidence that supports delaying or omitting any of the vaccinations in the schedule recommended by the CDC. Many studies have concluded that there is no link between autism and vaccination.

A Danish study recently published in The Annals of Internal Medicine followed more than 650,000 children over the course of 10 years and concluded that there is no association between the MMR vaccine and autism.

There have been recent outbreaks in 12 U.S. states where children have not had optimal vaccination, causing many individuals to become seriously ill.

In Rhode Island and Massachusetts, we are very fortunate to have very high rates of completed vaccinations in infants and children. This is an important way to protect the most vulnerable among us.

To learn more about vaccination, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Celeste C. Corcoran, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician in the Lifespan Physician Group practice at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.