Vaccination Schedule by Gaithersburg Pediatricians for your Child

An illness free life is important for your child as he/she grows up. Vaccinations play a pivotal role in keeping your child healthy and protected from deadly diseases. Administered in the form of preventive dosages, vaccinations safeguard your child from what may otherwise cause severe limitation or worry as he/she grows into an adult. Right from the time a baby is born, up to a certain age, these preventive medicines need to be given to your child at regular intervals. Vaccinations need be administered as per a pre-set schedule, for maximum effectiveness. Gaithersburg in Maryland is home to some of the finest pediatrics in the country. Here is a comprehensive vaccination chart for your child right from birth to 1 year of age, as recommended by these doctors who specialize in children’s healthcare.

•  1 - 2 weeks : Metabolic screening

Screening newborn babies helps identify conditions that can impact a child’s health or prospects of survival in the long run. This examination, done using blood droplets taken from the newborn’s heel helps diagnose endocrine, genetic, and metabolic disorders. The baby is also screened for hearing loss and congenital heart disease at this stage.

•  1 month : Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver. It may be a mild illness or a chronic condition depending on the severity of the disease. Hepatitis B vaccines protects your child from this deadly disease, and prevents its consequences such as liver cancer and cirrhosis.

•  2 months : Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis, Prevnar, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza B, Rotavirus

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are diseases that are caused by bacteria. While diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person, tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTaP) helps prevent these chronic diseases that may eventually lead to death. It also keeps your child protected throughout childhood.

Prevnar or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (called PCV13) protects your child against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria, which cause ear infections, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, and the like.

Polio vaccine protects against the paralytic and disability causing polio disease.

Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhea, mostly in babies and young children. The diarrhea caused by this virus is often severe, and can lead to dehydration. Rotavrius vaccine prevents your children from contracting this disease.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It can result in pneumonia, breathing difficulty, infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart, and ultimately death. The Hib vaccine helps protect your child from this deadly disease.

•  4 months : Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis, Prevnar, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza B, Rotavirus

The vaccination at this stage is a repeat of what is administered to the child at the age of 2 months

•  6 months : Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis,  Prevnar, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza B, Rotavirus, Hepatitis B

The vaccination given when your child is 6 months old comprises of all those that are administered at the age of 2 months and 4 months. In addition to these, your child also needs to be given a Hepatitis B vaccination.

•  1 year : Varicella (Chickenpox), Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A vaccine.

At the age of 1 year, your child is given a new set off vaccination to protect him or her from the following diseases

•  Chicken pox - A common childhood disease that causes rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. In some cases, it can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or even death.

•  Measles, Mumps, and Rubella - Diseases found commonly in children in the absence of a vaccination. They can cause rash, itching, fever, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and even arthritis. Severe infection may lead to meningitis, brain damage, and death.

•  Hepatitis A - A serious liver disease that can cause liver failure, and in rare cases, death.

Vaccination at regular, prescribed intervals is essential to keep your child healthy and protected from different illnesses. For queries and timely administration of vaccines, you can take the help of pediatricians, or pediatric clinics and hospitals that specialize in the same.