The Importance of Vaccines

Throughout childhood and adult life, your child will receive vaccines according to a recommended schedule. Vaccines are very important to help prevent certain common diseases. They work by “teaching” your child’s immune system to recognize and fight bacteria and viruses before infection occurs. Worldwide, the benefits of vaccines are enormous. They save the lives of 3 million children annually!

Your baby may have received some vaccines at the hospital when he or she was born, and may receive another one at the first well-baby visit. Some of the diseases prevented by vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A and B, flu, and polio. All vaccines that are approved for use in the United States have been thoroughly tested for safety, and serious side effects are very rare. Your baby may have some redness or soreness at the vaccination site, however, and it’s common for babies to develop a slight fever after vaccination.