Public Information - Vaccine Descriptions
DtaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) Vaccine
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, or airway. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death.
Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to ?locking? of the jaw so the person cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus can lead to death. Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing spells so bad that it is hard for infants to eat, drink , or breathe. These can last for weeks. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines prevent these diseases. DTaP is recommended at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, between 15 to 18 months and ages 4 to 6. Td (Tetanus/diphtheria) vaccine is available for people 7 years old and older.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause short-term (acute) illness that leads to: loss of appetite, tiredness, pain in muscles, joints and stomach, diarrhea and vomiting and jaundice (yellow skin or eyes). It can also cause long-term (chronic) illness that leads to: liver damage, liver cancer and death. Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent Hepatitis B. The 1st dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended at ages birth to 2 months, the 2nd dose at 1 month to 4 months, and the 3rd dose between ages 6 months and 18 months depending on the age at the time of the first dose
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of persons with Hepatitis A infection. It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing HAV. Hepatitis A infection can cause: mild 'flu-like' illness, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) and severe stomach pains and diarrhea. People with Hepatitis A infection often have to be hospitalized and in rare cases, it causes death. A person who has Hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others in the same household. Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent Hepatitis A infection. This vaccine is given in 2 doses, six months apart
Chickenpox Vaccine
Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults. Chicken pox causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. Chicken pox vaccine is recommended at age 12 months and a second dose at 4-6 years of age.
Tetanus and Diptheria Vaccine (Td)
Tetanus is caused by a germ that enters the body through a cut or wound. Tetanus causes serious, painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to : 'locking' of the jaw so the patient cannot open his or her mouth or swallow. Diphtheria spreads when germs pass from an infected person to the nose or throat of others. Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, or airway. It can lead to: breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, or death. There would be many more cases if we stopped vaccinating people. Td vaccine is recommended 7 years after the last DTaP and then every 10 years throughout life.
MMR Vaccine
The Measles virus causes a rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), and death. The Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis, painful swelling of the testes or ovaries, and, rarely, death. The Rubella virus causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis (mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent these diseases. One dose of MMR vaccine is recommended at ages 12 to 15 months and another dose at 4 to 6 years.
Polio Vaccine (Inactivated)
Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child?s (or adult?s) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can't move arm or leg). Polio can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) can prevent polio and is recommended at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 to18 months and between 4 to 6 years.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Anyone can get meningococcal disease. It is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting meningococcal disease. Meningococcal vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease. About 1 out of every 10 people who get the disease dies from it, and many others are affected for life. It is important that people with the highest risk for meningococcal disease get the vaccine. For people 2 years of age and over: 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine is recommended.
Influenza Vaccine
Influenza ('flu') is a serious disease. It is caused by a virus that spreads from an infected person to the nose or throat of others. Influenza can cause: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills and muscle aches. Anyone can get influenza. Most people are ill with influenza for only a few days, but some get much sicker and need to be hospitalized. Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, mostly among the elderly. Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza. The influenza vaccine is given yearly in the fall.
Haemophilus Influenzae type b (HIB) Vaccine
Your child can get HIB disease by being around other children or adults who have the bacteria. Before this vaccine, HIB disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years of age in the United States. HIB disease can also cause: pneumonia, severe swelling in the throat, infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart and death. Before HIB vaccine, about 20,000 children in the United States under 5 years old got severe HIB disease each year. HIB vaccine is recommended at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 to 15 months. Some HIB vaccine formulations require 3 doses, and others require 4 doses.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
Each year pneumococcal infection causes severe disease in children under 5 years old: over 700 cases of meningitis, 13, 000 blood infections, and about 5 million ear infections. Children under 2 years old are at highest risk for this disease. Pneumococcal infections can be hard to treat because the bacteria have become resistant to some of the drugs used to treat them in the past. This makes prevention of pneumococcal infections even more important. Ear infections have many causes, and pneumococcal vaccine is effective against only some of them. Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 to 15 months. Pneumococcal vaccine is a new requirement for daycares for 2008-09 school year.