14 FAQ(s) have been entered for this Program.

Why should my child be immunized?

What childhood diseases do vaccines prevent?

How serious are these diseases?

What are my child's chances of being exposed to these diseases?

Why are vaccines given at such an early age?

Why can't I wait until school to have my child immunized?

What will happen if my child doesn't get these shots?

How do immunizations work?

What if my child didn't start her shots on time or gets behind schedule? Will they still work?

What if my child has a cold, a fever, or is taking antibiotics? Can he or she still get vaccinated?

Do vaccines have any side effects?

Can vaccines cause serious reactions?

What do I do if my child has a serious reaction?

Why is the immunization record card important?

For parents and the general public

• Why should my child be immunized?
  Answer:  
  Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from dangerous childhood diseases. These diseases can have serious complications and even kill children.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• What childhood diseases do vaccines prevent?
  Answer:  
  · Measles
  · Mumps
  · Rubella (German measles)
  · Polio
  · Diphtheria
  · Tetanus (lockjaw)
  · Pertussis (whooping cough)
  · Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
  · Hepatitis B
  · Hepatitis A
  · Varicella (chickenpox)
  · Pneumococcal disease
  
  Vaccines can't prevent children from getting minor illnesses like colds, but they can keep children safe from many serious diseases. Without vaccinations, your child could get very sick.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• How serious are these diseases?
  Answer:  
  Any of them can kill a child. It's easy to forget how serious they are because--thanks largely to vaccines--we don't see them nearly as much as we used to. Measles used to kill thousands of people in the United States every year. In the 1940's and 1950's, tens of thousands of children were crippled or killed by polio. As recently as the mid-1980's, 20,000 children a year suffered from meningitis and other serious complications as a result of Hib disease.
  
  These diseases aren't as common as they used to be, but they haven't changed. They can still lead to pneumonia, choking, brain damage, heart problems, liver cancer, and blindness in children who are not immune. They can still kill children every year, even in the United States.
  Links:
  Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
  
  

• What are my child's chances of being exposed to these diseases?
  Answer:  
  It's hard to say. Some of these diseases are very rare in the U.S. today, so the chances of exposure are small. Others are still fairly common. Some are rare in the U.S. but common elsewhere in the world. Don't assume your child is completely safe from these diseases, even the rare ones. For instance, a child in the United States has only a tiny chance of catching diphtheria. But several years ago, a boy in California did catch diphtheria and he died. He was the only child in his class who hadn't been vaccinated.
  Links:
  Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
  
  

• Why are vaccines given at such an early age?
  Answer:  
  Vaccines are given at an early age because the diseases they prevent can strike at an early age. Some diseases are far more serious or common among infants or young children.
  
  For example, up to 60% of severe disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b occurs in children under 12 months of age. Infants less than 6 months of age are at highest risk for serious complications of pertussis - 72% of children under 6 months who get pertussis must be hospitalized, and 84% of all deaths from pertussis are among children under 6 months.
  
  The ages at which vaccines are recommended are not arbitrary. They are chosen to give children the earliest and best protection against disease.
  Links:
  Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
  
  

• Why can't I wait until school to have my child immunized?
  Answer:  
  Children under 5 are especially susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. By immunizing on time (by age 2), you can protect your child from disease and also protect others at school or daycare.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• What will happen if my child doesn't get these shots?
  Answer:  
  Basically, one of two things could happen.
  
  1) If your child goes through life without ever being exposed to any of these diseases, nothing would happen.
  
  2) If your child were exposed to any of these diseases, there is a good chance he would get the disease. What happens then depends on the child and the disease. The child could get mildly ill and have to stay inside for a few days. He could get very sick and have to go to the hospital. At the very worst, he could die. In addition, he could also spread the disease to other children and adults who are not immune. If there were enough unprotected people in the community, the result could be an epidemic, with many people getting sick and some dying.
  Links:
  What if you don't immunize your child?
  Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
  

• How do immunizations work?
  Answer:  
  When you get an infection, your body reacts by producing substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight the disease and help you to get over the illness. They usually stay in your system, even after the disease has gone, and protect you from getting the same disease again. This is called immunity.
  
  Newborn babies are immune to many diseases because they have antibodies they have gotten from their mothers. But this immunity doesn't last. It wears off during the first year of life.
  
  Fortunately, we can keep children immune to many diseases, even after they lose their mothers' antibodies. We do this by vaccinating them against those diseases. The germs that cause disease are made into vaccines. These vaccines can be given to children as shots or as drops to be swallowed. Vaccines fool the body into thinking it is under attack by disease, and the body reacts by producing antibodies. These antibodies stay in the body. Then, if the child is exposed to the actual disease, he or she is protected.
  Links:
  How do vaccines work?
  
  

• What if my child didn't start her shots on time or gets behind schedule? Will they still work?
  Answer:  
  Yes. Although it is best to have your child immunized on schedule, it is never too late. Most of the shots can be given at any age, and a child who is behind schedule does not have to start over. The shots already given will still count and the child will still develop immunity. Contact your health care provider to schedule and immunization appointment.
  Links:
  Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• What if my child has a cold, a fever, or is taking antibiotics? Can he or she still get vaccinated?
  Answer:  
  Yes. Your child can be vaccinated if he or she has a mild illness such as a cold, a slight fever, or is taking antibiotics. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions.
  Links:
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  

• Do vaccines have any side effects?
  Answer:  
  Side effects can occur with any medicine, including vaccines. Depending on the vaccine, these can include: slight fever, rash, or soreness at the site of injection. Slight discomfort is normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Your health care provider can give you additional information.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• Can vaccines cause serious reactions?
  Answer:  
  Yes, but serious reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. The risks of serious disease from not vaccinating are far greater than the risks of serious reaction to a vaccination.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• What do I do if my child has a serious reaction?
  Answer:  
  If you think your child is experiencing a persistent or severe reaction, call your doctor or get the child to a doctor right away. Write down what happened and the date and time it happened. Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call 1-800-338-2382 to file this form yourself.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots
  

• Why is the immunization record card important?
  Answer:  
  The California immunization record (CIR) / yellow card / shot record helps you and your health care provider keep your child's immunizations on schedule. If you move or change providers, having an accurate record might prevent your child from repeating vaccinations he or she has already had. A shot record should be started when your child receives his/her first shot and updated with each immunization.
  Links:
  10 Things you need to know about immunizations
  Questions parents ask about baby shots