Current childhood vaccine recommendations call for immunization against 15 vaccine-preventable diseases. That may sound like a lot, but remember, vaccines engage only a tiny part of a healthy baby's immune system—yet they offer broader protection against many serious diseases than ever before.48
You may think of chickenpox as a normal part of childhood, but it can be dangerous. Before the vaccine, chickenpox caused 100 to 150 deaths each year in the United States.30
Read more at cdc.govThe "D" in the Tdap, DTaP and Td vaccines stands for diphtheria. Before the vaccine, diphtheria caused more than 15,000 deaths in children in the United States during a single year.72
Read moreFlu seasons vary, but each year children die from the flu. In 2009, more than 340 children died from the swine flu (H1N1).73 The best way to protect against flu is to get vaccinated every year.74
Read moreHep A is a dangerous virus you can get from consuming contaminated food or water. Some infected children may not show symptoms—a factor that plays a role in the spread of the disease.57
Read more at cdc.govOf children infected with Hep B between 1 and 5 years of age, 30% to 50% have chronic or lifelong Hep B infection that can cause serious health complications.57
Read moreBefore vaccines, Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings) in children under the age of 5.57
Read more at cdc.govMeasles is one of the most infectious viral diseases in the world.30 Before the vaccine, nearly everyone in the United States got the measles, and today outbreaks still occur.30,62
Read more at cdc.govMumps is a viral disease that causes swollen glands in the neck and jaw area. Before the vaccine, mumps was a major cause of deafness and brain damage in children.30
Read more at cdc.govPneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection transmitted from an infected person. It can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blood infections, deafness, brain damage, and death.72
Read more at cdc.govThe United States hasn't seen polio since 1979, but scientists are wondering if it could come back. From 2009 to 2010, 23 countries that had previously been certified "polio-free" were re-infected due to imported cases of the disease.22
Read moreRubella, or German measles, can cause miscarriages and premature birth in pregnant women. Before routine use of the vaccine, 20,000 infants were born with birth defects as the result of rubella from 1964 to 1965.30
Read more at cdc.govEvery year, rotavirus causes the deaths of more than 500,000 children under 5 years of age worldwide.57 This highly contagious intestinal viral disease can cause severe diarrhea with fever and vomiting, which can make children dangerously dehydrated.72
Read more at cdc.govThe "T" in DTaP, Tdap, and Td vaccine stands for tetanus. DTaP and Tdap vaccines also help protect infants and children against diphtheria and whooping cough, known medically as pertussis.
Read morePertussis has gotten some attention recently because it is on the rise in the United States.57 Infants may not be fully protected against pertussis until they have received at least 3 doses of the infant pertussis vaccine.57,25
Read moreWhen a child belongs to a high-risk group, a health-care professional may recommend vaccines that aren't usually given to someone under 6 years of age.
Meningitis VaccineAlthough meningococcal disease rates are higher among adolescents, the vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk children 9 months to 10 years of age.55,76,77
Read more at cdc.govAdditional doses of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) may be recommended for certain high-risk children 24 months of age and older.49
Read more at cdc.govAdditional doses of Hepatitis A (Hep A) vaccine may be recommended for certain high-risk children 24 months of age and older.49
Read more at cdc.gov
