HOPto IT! Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule Common Questions About Immunization & Childhood Diseases What Are Immunizations? Immunizations, also called vaccinations or shots, are a form of medicine made to protect people against many preventable diseases. These medicines are usually given by injection (shot). If your child is not properly immunized and gets one of these diseases, severe illness may result, which can cripple or even cause the death of your child. When To Immunize? Children begin vaccinations at birth. Children will need several vaccinations during their VWXQSRXLWSJPMJIERHEXHMJJIVIRX times for the rest of their lives. Where Can My Child Be Immunized? 'EPP]SYVLIEPXLGEVITVSZMHIVWSJGISVPSGEP TYFPMGLIEPXLGPMRMGXSRHSYXXLIXMQIERH place to get your child immunized. How Do I Pay For Immunizations? Many health insurance plans, including Medicaid and PeachCare, cover the cost of immunizations. If your health insurance plan does not cover immunizations, check to see if your health care provider offers the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. VFC is a federally funded program that provides vaccines to local doctors and public health clinics for children who meet required guidelines. Why Immunize Your Child? Immunizing your child will help protect him/ her from these harmful diseases: ,ITEXMXMW& ,ITEXMXMW% (MTLXLIVME 8IXERYW PSGONE[ 4IVXYWWMW [LSSTMRKGSYKL ,MRYIR^EX]TIFHMWIEWI ,MF 4SPMS 1IEWPIW 1YQTW 6YFIPPE +IVQERQIEWPIW :EVMGIPPE^SWXIV GLMGOIRTS\ 4RIYQSGSGGEPHMWIEWI -RYIR^E Y 1IRMRKSGSGGEPHMWIEWI 6SXEZMVYWHMWIEWI ,YQERTETMPPSQEZMVYW ,4: These diseases can result in breathing problems, liver, lung and brain damage, heart problems, blindness, deafness, cancer and IZIRHIEXL%PPSJXLIWIHMWIEWIWI\GITX tetanus, are spread from person to person. Child care centers, schools and colleges VIUYMVIWXYHIRXWXSFIYTXSHEXI[MXLXLIMV vaccinations. Where Can I Find A Record Of My Child's Immunizations? 'SRXEGX]SYVLIEPXLGEVITVSZMHIV+ISVKME providers submit immunization records XSXLI+ISVKME6IKMWXV]SJ-QQYRM^EXMSR 8VERWEGXMSRWERH7IVZMGIW +6-87 +6-87 maintains immunization records in a computer database, regardless of when SV[LIVIMR+ISVKMEXLIWLSXW[IVI administered. Who Should Be Immunized? Every child should be fully immunized. Immunizing your children will protect them against harmful diseases. (See the immunization schedule for a complete list of recommended vaccinations.) Are Immunizations Safe? The risk of getting a disease by not being vaccinated is far greater than the chance of problems from the vaccine itself. It is important to remember that all vaccines are tested many times to ensure they are safe for your child. Are There Any Common Side Effects To Immunizations? Common side effects may include a slight fever or redness, tenderness and swelling at the site of vaccination for a day or two. These side effects are mild and may not appear with each immunization. You should discuss any health concerns you may have with your doctor or public health clinic staff. If you feel your child has had an unusual or severe side effect to an immunization, contact your health care provider for immediate IZEPYEXMSRERHEXXIRXMSRERHVIUYIWXXLI]PI E:EGGMRI%HZIVWI)ZIRX6ITSV XMRK7]WXIQ :%)67 VITSV XEX Can My Child Be Immunized Even If He/She Is Sick? A minor illness should not prevent your child from being immunized. Talk to your doctor or public health clinic. What If My Child Misses Some of His/Her Immunizations? You should never skip a scheduled MQQYRM^EXMSRETTSMRXQIRXJSV]SYVGLMPH&YX if you do miss an immunization, your doctor or health care clinic can put your child on a GEXGLYTWGLIHYPI%P[E]WOIITERYTXS date immunization record for your child. Ask your doctor or public health clinic to review your child's record at each visit and to tell ]SY[LIRXLIRI\XZEGGMREXMSRMWRIIHIH *SVQ 6IZ How To Keep On Track! &IKMR]SYVGLMPHWMQQYRM^EXMSRWSRXMQI,ITEXMXMW&GERFIKMZIREXFMV XLERHSXLIVZEGGMRIWWXEV XEX [IIOWSJEKI Never miss a chance to get your child immunized. ,EZI]SYVHSGXSVSVRYVWIVIZMI[YTHEXIERHIRXIVIEGLMQQYRM^EXMSRKMZIRMRXSXLI+ISVKME6IKMWXV] SJ-QQYRM^EXMSR8VERWEGXMSRWERH7IVZMGIW +6-87 Keep a record of your child's immunizations and take it with you when you visit your doctor or public health clinic. -J]SYHSRSXLEZIEVIGSVHEWO]SYVTVSZMHIVXSGLIGO+6-87 1EVOXLIHYIHEXISJ]SYVGLMPHWRI\XZEGGMREXMSRERHWXE]SRWGLIHYPI Talk with your doctor or nurse about each vaccine. Don't be afraid to ask questions. &IGEVIJYPXSVIZMI[EPPZEGGMRIJEGXWXLEX]SYVIGIMZIFIJSVI]SYVGLMPHMWMQQYRM^IH How To Comfort Your Child. 7XE]'EPQ=SYVGLMPHGERWIRWIMJ]SYEVIRIV ZSYWSVYTWIX 8EPO5YMIXP]7TIEOMREWSSXLMRKUYMIXZSMGIXSGSQJSV X your child. ,SPH=SYV'LMPH&IMRKGPSWIXS]SY[MPPGSQJSV X]SYV child. 4VISGGYT]=SYV'LMPH8V ]XSHMWXVEGX]SYVGLMPH[MXL other things such as singing or playing a game. &VMRKE8S]%XS]SVWTIGMEPMXIQJVSQLSQIGERLIPT calm your child. %PPS[=SYV'LMPH8S'V]-XWERSVQEPVIWTSRWI &I8VYXLJYP(SRXXIPP]SYVGLMPHMX[SRXLYV X When to Immunize (Vaccines are listed by the age and age range they are to be given) *Each frog equals one dose. Age &MV XL 1SRXL 1SRXLW Hep B ,ITEXMXMW& DTaP/Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Per tussis) Hib ,EIQSTLMPYW MRYIR^E X]TI& Polio PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate) RV 6SXEZMVYW MMR (Measles, Mumps & 6YFIPPE Varicella Hep A 'LMGOIRTS\ ,ITEXMXMW% MCV4 -RYIR^E (Meningococcal Conjugate) HPV ,YQER Papillomavirus) 4 Months 1SRXLW 1SRXLW 1SRXLW 1SRXLW =IEVW =IEVW =IEVW 'EXGL9T3 =IEVW =IEVW =IEVW QSRXLW 'EXGL9T3 'EXGL9T3 4 'EXGL9T3, 4 (Tdap/Td) QSRXLW 'EXGL9T3 XS]IEVW 'EXGL9T3 'EXGL9T3 QSRXLW 'EXGL9T XS]IEVW QSRXLW 'EXGL9T3 'EXGL9T3 QSRXLW 'EXGL9T3 HSWIW 'EXGL9T3 'EXGL9T3 6IGSQQIRHIH for children at risk [LSEVI]IEVW of age and older if not previously vaccinated. 'EXGL9T3 QSRXLW ]IEVW (given for each YWIEWSR 3 doses 'EXGL9T3 This schedule was adapted from the immunization schedule published by the Immunization Action Coalition and the recommendations approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). 1 Your infant may not need a HSWISJ,MFZEGGMRIEX QSRXLWSJEKIHITIRHMRK on the brand of vaccine that your health care provider uses. 2 A child that is younger XLER]IEVWERHKIXXMRK ZEGGMREXIHEKEMRWXMRYIR^E JSVXLIVWXXMQIWLSYPHKIX two doses spaced at least four weeks apart. 3 Vaccinations delayed or missed entirely should be given as soon as possible. 4 One dose of Tdap is recommended for persons ]IEVWERHSPHIV 'LMPHVIREKIERHSPHIV 5 [MXLLMKLVMWOLIEPXL problems may need additional doses. 6 Your infant may not need EHSWISJVSXEZMVYWEX months depending on the brand of vaccine your health care provider uses. Responsibilities Associated with Immunization Requirements 4L]WMGMERWERH4YFPMG,IEPXL'PMRMGW /RS[MRKXLIGYVVIRXPIKEPVIUYMVIQIRXWJSVEXXIRHERGIERHEGGYVEXIP]GSQTPIXMRKXLIGIVXMGEXI %HQMRMWXIVMRKMQQYRM^EXMSRWEGGSVHMRKXSXLIGYVVIRX6IGSQQIRHIH'LMPHLSSHERH%HSPIWGIRX Immunization Schedule 6ITSVXMRKXLISGGYVVIRGISJER]HMWIEWIWPMWXIHSRXLI2SXMEFPI(MWIEWI0MWX 6ITSVXER]EHZIVWIIZIRXJSPPS[MRKXLIEHQMRMWXVEXMSRSJEZEGGMRIXS:%)67 Child Care and School: 6IZMI[XLIGIVXMGEXIWJSVZEPMHMX]TVMSVXSEGGITXMRK (IZIPSTEW]WXIQJSVMQQYRM^EXMSRGIVXMGEXIQEREKIQIRX ,EZIGIVXMGEXIWEZEMPEFPIJSVMRWTIGXMSRERHEYHMXF]LIEPXLSJGMEPW 6ITSVXXLISGGYVVIRGISJER]HMWIEWIPMWXIHSRXLI2SXMEFPI(MWIEWI0MWX Responsibilities of Parents or Caregivers 8EOI]SYVGLMPHXSELIEPXLGEVITVSZMHIVJSVGLIGOYTWERHMQQYRM^EXMSRWEXXLIVIGSQQIRHIHXMQIW 6IZMI[EPPZEGGMRIJEGXWVIGIMZIHFIJSVI]SYVGLMPHMWMQQYRM^IH Discuss any questions or concerns about vaccines with your child's health care provider Keep your child's personal immunization record and take it with you on each visit to the health care provider to be assessed and updated Mark your child's vaccination due date and stay on schedule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center, the school may have the original and the child care facility a photocopy. 8SVIKMWXIVJSVWGLSSPMR+ISVKME]SYVGLMPH[MPPEPWSRIIHE*SVQ,IEVMRK:MWMSR(IRXEP *SVQEFMV XLGIV XMGEXI7SGMEP7IGYVMX]GEVHERHTVSSJSJVIWMHIRGI +ISVKME6IKMWXV ]SJ-QQYRM^EXMSR Transactions and Services +6-87MWEFMV XLXSHIEXL[IFFEWIHVIKMWXV ]XLEX keeps track of immunizations and related information for +ISVKMERWSJEPPEKIW MIGLMPHVIREHSPIWGIRXWERHEHYPXW 8LI+6-87W]WXIQMRGPYHIWEGSQTVILIRWMZIHEXEFEWI of immunization histories to help individuals get the immunizations they need by keeping track of all vaccines they have received so they don't get double or triple HSWIW+6-87TVSZMHIWMQTSV XERXMQQYRM^EXMSR VIGSVHWERHJSVQW MI JSVOIITMRK track of immunizations. For more information visit the Georgia Immunization Program website www.health.state.ga.us/programs/immunization or call 404-657-3158.