Protecting Your Baby with Vaccines

Many parents worry about the possible side effects of vaccinating their baby. Stories abound on the internet regarding possible side effects and complications making parents grapple with questions. Does my baby need all those vaccines? Should I split them up so they aren’t all at once? These are important and sometimes confusing decisions.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), urges parents, schools and communities to commit to protecting our nation's infants, children, adolescents and adults with the most effective tool we have—vaccination. Vaccines are one of the most important ways parents can protect their children from very real diseases that exist in our world.

Immunizations protect your baby from 14 serious childhood diseases that can cause illness, disability and even death.  The AAP urges parents to have their children immunized against measles as well as other infectious diseases according to the recommended schedule. View an easy-to-read vaccine schedule from birth to six-years-old.                                   

Being a parent is an enormous responsibility. You want to make the best decisions for the health and safety of your child. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns or questions about whether to vaccinate your baby.

See the following articles from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for additional information:

• Vaccine Risks and Benefits
• Vaccines Your Child Needs by Age Six
• Recommended Immunization Schedules
• Why Immunize Your Child

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