Babies and children need to be protected from potentially life-threatening diseases by immunization. In America, the CDC designed a protocol to protect the little ones from 17 vaccine-preventable diseases. In Columbus, GA, immunizations are administered to children by Dr. Shilpa Vernekar and Dr. Lucienne Valcourt. And they do so under the guidance of the CDC guidelines that are updated every year and shared with the clinicians. But how do you as a parent understand when and what immunizations your child should get in Columbus, GA? Let's have a look at the recommended schedule for your child from birth to 18 years.
Recommended schedule
- At birth, the baby should receive their first Hepatitis B immunizations, at their local Columbus, GA pediatricians
- The second dose of the Hep B vaccine should be given at 1-2 months of age
- At two months, they should be given one dose of each of the following vaccines: DTaP vaccine, HIB, Polio, PCV, and Rotavirus
- At four months, babies should receive a dose of vaccine that covers the same conditions as they received at two months.
- At six months, the third dose of DTaP and PCV vaccine will be given, with HIB and Rotavirus optional depending on the vaccine brand given previously
- At six months of age, they can receive the Influenza vaccine
- Between the age of 6-18months, they are due for Hep B and IPV doses
- When they reach 12 months (12-15 months), children should be given the MMR and Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine. They are also due for the next dose of PCV and HIB
- Sometime during their second year of life (12-23 months), two doses of the Hep A vaccine should be given. They need to be spaced at least 6 months apart. Also, a dose of DTaP should be given when the baby is between 15-18 months old
- 4-6-year-olds (pre-school age) should receive a dose of DTaP, MMR, IPV, and Varicella vaccines
- When they reach 11 -12 years, they are given the HPV vaccine, a booster shot of DTaP, and MenACWY vaccine to prevent meningitis
- At 16-18 years, they may receive another dose of the MenACWY vaccine
The above schedule is a skeleton framework of the complete schedule available on the CDC site, but even this seems very complex. To save yourself the trouble of remembering when which vaccine should be given to your child to ensure protection from vaccine-preventable diseases, let Dr. Vernekar and Dr. Valcourt of Columbus Children's Clinic in Columbus, GA book your immunizations in advance.