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:I:" 4 .1 000 
TO I  Immunize Every 
Child By Two 
NAME Of HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: 
iri 
DHR 
~~rgia Depcnment 
 
 Common Questions About Immunization And Childhood Diseases 
What Are Immunizations? 
Immunization s, else coiled vaccinatio ns or 
shots, are a form of medicine mode 10 protect children ogoinst ma ny disea se s thot can be prevented. The se medicines 
are given either by Injection (shot) or by mouth (orol). If your chi ld g els one of these disea ses, it con lead to a severe ill ness which ca n cripple or even couse the de a th of yo ur child. 
Why Immunize Your Child? 
Immunizi ng yo ur child will protect her from these harmful d iseases: 
 hepat itis B  di phtheria  tetcnus (lockjaw)  pe rtussis (whooping coug h)  hib disease  polio  measles  mumps  rubella {Germon measles}  varicella zos ter (chickenpox) 
The se d iseases co n result in breathi ng problem s, liver, lung and bra in damage, heart problems , blindne ss, deafness, 
ca ncer and eve n dea th. All of these 
diseases, except tetanu s, a re spread fro m pe rson to pe rson. Pre-schools, day care centers and a ll g rade, midd le and high schools, co lleg e and trade schoo ls req uire students to be up-to-dote with their vccciocnoos. 
Who Should Be Immunized? 
Every ch Id should be fully Immunized ImmunIZing your children WI I protect 
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 When To Immunize? Ch dren co be 
gett n9 voce. 0 a bir Ch dr n 
eed severo vo a- 
ons dvr 09 th t 12-18 months of hfe 
and at different times 
for the rest of their 
jives. 
Where Can My Child Be Immunized? 
Ca ll your doctor's office or local health core 
cli nic 10 find ou l the time an d pla ce to g et yo ur child immunized. 
How Do I Pay For 
Immunizations? 
Many heahh insurance pions, Including Medicaid and PeochCore, cover the 
cost of immunizotions. If 
your health insurance pion does not cover immuniza- 
tions, check 10 see jf your health COre provider offers the Vaccines for ChIldren (VFC) pros,am VFC, a Iedo,ally funded pros,a 
that pcOYides voce to local dador, and health 
cI me lar ch idlon _red 
 
 Are Immunizations Safe? 
No vacci ne is fully without risk. The risk o f getting a disea se by not be ing va ccina ted is far g reater than the 
chance o f problems from the vaccin e itself. It is importonI to remember thot a ll vaccines a re tested many 
limes to ensure they ore safe for your child. 
Are There Any Common Side Effects To Immunizations? 
Yes, common side effects moy Include a 
slight fever or redness, tenderness and 
swelling at the site of vaccination for a doy or two. These side effects are mild and may nol appear wifh each immunization You should discuss any health concerns you may 
hove with your doclor or health care clinic. 
Can My Child Be Immunized Even If He Is Sick? 
A minor illness should not prevent your child from bei ng immunized:Co nsult with your doctor or health care clinic. 
What If My Child Misses Some of Her Immunizations? 
Yo u should never skip a scheduled immuniza tio n visit for yo ur child , But if you do miss an immunization, you r doctor or hea lth ca re clinic ca n put you r child on a "cotcb-up" schedule. A lways keep an up-to-da te immunization record for your child . A sk you r doctor or health care cli nic 10 review you r child's reco rd at each visi t and to tell you when the next vaccinatio n is needed. 
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I=n Nn ':l:1 1 ~ ( 1:1<>" L?ntVlI 
 
 HowTo 
 
Keep 
On 
 
Begin _ on time by 
 
starting your 
Track!!! child's immuniza- 
tions at birth or by 
~ 1 month of 
 
~J><1~ Always 
 
age. 
 
C 
 
toke your 
 
Never miss a chance 10 g et your child immuniz ed. 
 
child's immunizetion record with you when you visit your 
 
- 
a !~oK~edeopf y?ur 
 
doctor or health ( core clinic. 
 
child s rmmumzctions. Have your doctor 
or nurse review and 
 
update it after each 
 
immunization . 
 
Mark 
 
the dote that your child's vaccination is due 
and stay on schedule. 
I 
 
Tolk 
 
with your 
~~{).~doctor or nurse 
 
Be ccrefultc 
review all vaccine 
facts that you 
 
about each vaccine. Don't be afra id to ask 
questions. 
 
receive before your 
 
child is immu- 
 
nized . 
 
How To Comfort 
 
Your Child . .  Hold Your 
 
Stay Ca lm - 
 
ChUd - 
 
- 
 
Your child can 
sense if you ore 
nervous or upset. 
 
Being clo se to you w ill comfort your child. 
 
Talk Qu;etly - Preoccupy 
 
Speak in a 
 
Your Child- 
 
soothing quiet voice to comfort your child. 
 
Try to distract your child wi th o ther thing s such a s singing or 
 
Br;ng a Toy- 
 
pla ying a game. 
 
A toy or specia l item from home can help calm your child. 
 
Allow Your ChUd To Cry It's a normal 
 
Be Truthful - 
Don't tell your child it wo n't hurt. 
 
respon se. 
 
 When To Immunize 
Vaccines ore listed by the age and the age range tha llhey are 10 be given. 
 
I 
 
Hep-B 
(Hepatitis B) 
 
AI Each frog equ,a l. one do.... 
 
DTaP/Td 
tDiphther ia, 
etonus and 
Pertussis} 
 
Hib 
(H. /nf/uenzoe 
type b) 
 
Birth 
 
I I 
 
~ 1 Month 
 
A 
Birth-2 months1 
:a 
14 months' 
 
2 Months 
 
  
 
Mr  4 Months I 
 
 
 
6Manths 
 
A 
 
A 
 
R 
 
:a A 
 
A 
 
~ 
 
. 
 
618 months' 
 
12 
 
 
 
~ 
 
Months 
 
 
 
121 5 months' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A 
 
15-18 Months 
 
All children 18 months of 
age and older need 3 hepatitis B shots if they 
 
15.18 mo nths1,4 
 
hoven', al ready received 
 
them. 
 
~rs~ 
 
   
 
R 
 
 
 
11-12 
Years 
 
 
 
 
A 
 
  
 
This is a Td shot. 
I litdpoeretusSrSeits.cvoanctcoiinneSthe 
 
 
 
13-16 Years 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Polio 
 
MMR 
JMeasles, umps a nd Rebello] 
 
Varicella (Chickenpox) 
 
A 
 
A 
 
A 
 
6-18 months 1.3 
 
 
 
A 
 
A 
 
  
 
1215 months' 
 
12.18 months1-6 All children 12 
 
 
 
months 01 age end older who hove not 
 
 
 
had Chickenpox or 
 
the vocine need to 
 
 
 
be voctnoted." 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
R 
 
.R. 
Children 4 yecrs of age and 
 
Older who hove not rec eived a 
 
   
 
second MMR should do so. 
 
 
 
  
 
     
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
(I) This is the age range in which the vaccine should be g iven. (2) Depending on Ike breed of Hib vacci ne used for the first and second doses, a dose at 6 months 01 ege may or moy notbe needed. 3 ) TheAdvi!>Ory Committee on Immunization Prccfices !ACl P), The American Academy of PediolTics (MPl and The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFPI recommend that IPV be given lor oil/our doses. Your child should receivethe third dose between6 and 18 months of age, 
 
end the fourth dose between 4 and 6 years of age. (4) May be given as early as 12 months 01 oge if six months hove passed sincethe lastdose. (5) Td should be 
given 0111 12 years 01 age il five years have passed since the lastdose Future doses should be given every 10 years. (6) Children who are 12 months through 12 years 01 age will need to be vaccinated with one dose. Susceptible children 13 years and older need 2 doses. 
 
Check wi,h your doctor or heo/,h coreclinic with any ques/jam about your immunization schedule. This schedule was adopted from /he recommended childhood immunizo'ion schedule, approved by The Advisory Committee on Immunization 
 
Practices IAC/P), The Amerjcan Academy' af Pediatrics (AAPj, and The American Academy af Family Physicians (AAFP). lJanuary-December 2(00) 
 
 Ten Reasons To Immunize 
 
Hepatitis B couses liver 
domage ca ncer or even death . You also con poss 
the disease on to othe rs 
even though you moy have no symp toms. 
 
Diphtheria con couse severe b rea thing and swa llowing problems. 
Tetanus (lockjaw) results when an open wound becomes infected with tela nus germ s, 
causing muscles to go into spa sm. 
 
Pe rtussis (whooping coug h) cau ses severe coughing spells tha t con couse trouble with brect hing, eating and drinking . It olso can 
lead to pneumonia, seizures or coma . 
 
H. Influenzae type b causes chills, fever, cough , headache and muscle aches. It 
con lead to bacterial meningitis 
(swelling of the brain or spinal 
cord membra ne). 
 
Polio causes nerve dam a ge 
 
Mumps causes pa inful swelling of your cheeks and jaws. Problems include swelli ng of the brain or spinal cord 
 
an d can lead to m uscle wea kness. It can cause tota l lo ss of use of your a rms, legs and lungs. 
 
membrane and possible 
deafness. 
 
Measles causes hig h fever and red spots. Prob- 
 
Rubella (G erman meosles) cau se s swollen g lan ds o nd a 
 
lems may includ e middle ea r infections, swell ing of the bra in and pneu monia . 
 
red rosh. In a p reg na nt wome n, it can cause da m- 
 
age to her unborn baby. 
 
Varicella zoster (chickenpox) ccus s b itching, and ca n result in prob lems such as pneumonia a nd infected skin blisters and even death . 
 
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