Immunizations and Vaccines

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and

vulnerable populations. It can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change.

Why Should Someone Get Immunized?

The goal of public health is to prevent disease. It's much easier and more cost-effective to prevent a disease than to treat it. That's exactly what immunizations aim to do.  Immunizations protect us from serious diseases and also prevent the spread of those diseases to others.

Which Immunizations Do My Children Need?

Proof of immunization is often a prerequisite for enrollment in school or day care, it's important to keep your children up to date on their vaccines. The benefit of doing so is that your children will be protected from diseases that could cause them serious health problems. The recommended immunizations for children 0-6 years of age include:

Hepatitis B

Rotavirus

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis

Haemophilus influenza type B

Pneumococcal

Poliovirus

Influenza

Measles, mumps, rubella

Varicella (chickenpox)

Hepatitis A

Meningococcal (for certain high-risk groups)

At one time or another, each of the diseases addressed by these vaccines posed a serious health threat to children, taking their lives by the thousands; today most of these diseases are at their lowest levels in decades, thanks to immunizations.

It's important to keep your child's immunizations on schedule and up to date, but if your child misses a scheduled dose he or she can "catch up" later.