2 months
Rotavirus
DTaP
3 months
PCV
Hib
4 months
Rotavirus (second dose)
DTaP (second dose)
5 months
PCV (second dose)
Hib (second dose)
6 months
Rotavirus (third dose)
DTaP (third dose)
7 months
PCV (third dose)
Hib (third dose)
9 months
Polio
12 months
Polio (second dose)
(Howerton, "Rage Against the Minivan: An alternative vaccination schedule (modified from Dr. Sears)")
“Vaccines prevent diseases, but only if most of the people in a community are immunized. If fewer and fewer people get shots, we all lose community immunity because diseases can spread quickly, and will have devastating effects in those locales with low immunization rates. Those who cannot be immunized due to medical reasons especially are at risk because they depend on us to protect them. Children…who can receive the shots but do not have the optimal immune response, are vulnerable as well.”
“One of the biggest concerns I hear is the number of vaccines that have to be administered. Parents ask ‘Is that too much for their immune system?’ No, the administration of vaccines has been closely monitored and studied. The schedule put out by the CDC is the most effective way to vaccinate kids. It’s hard to say it’s not too much, but it’s effective. Another is ‘What are the side effects?’ The majority are injection site reactions. Where the vaccine was injected becomes hot and red and swollen, a dime size to a whole thigh. But this happens in about 5% cases, but it’s often confused with an infection, but this actually means the body is doing its job. Most kids do really well! Tylenol or Ibuprofen can help, but most kids tolerate it very well. I think it’s harder on the parents.”
“The reason I follow the schedule is this: there are a lot of smart people that have been working on this for years that have taken this very seriously. They use validated data. As a physician I don’t have to guess or try to make up what I think is going to be best for the patient. I can rely on the strength of a lot of people’s hard work. Having said that, I have to interact with families and work with their concerns and beliefs. So if a mom comes in and says she feels overwhelmed by the amount of vaccines, I explain why we have them, and she might opt to vaccinate one at a time. Then we have to talk about which is most crucial. We start off with vaccines that save lives fastest. Some vaccines are better than none.”
“It’s a public health safety initiative. The meningococcal vaccine, for example. If you have an unimmunized population and one kid gets meningitis those other unimmunized kids are pulled out of school for weeks. Vaccines can keep our kids in school, and set them up for success, learning life skills. It’s another part of the ‘herd immunity’ piece. It’s important to protect those who can’t be vaccinated.”
“Going from a patient’s perspective to becoming a provider, I know how seriously this is taken, the quality control, the constant monitoring, the inventory, everything being documented, and all that goes into this. There is a lot of paternalism and misinformation out there. It isn’t widely accepted by the population, but it’s taken with great, great responsibility by the providers” (Gibson).