Vaccines

Although chickenpox (Varicella) is usually mild, vaccinating children can prevent complications of severe chickenpox and reduce costs associated with children missing school and adults missing work. The chickenpox vaccine is very effective in preventing chickenpox. Typically the vaccine is given between the 12th-15th months of age. Another vaccine that can be given for chickenpox is the MMRV.

DtaP is a combined vaccine that protects against diptheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), which is commonly given in 5 doses at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 15th-18th months of age and is not typically given to anyone over 7 years of age. For children who cannot tolerate the pertussis vaccine, an optional Td (tetanus and diptheria) vaccine can be given to this age range. Children who should NOT receive the DtaP vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of DtaP vaccine or to any of the vaccine ingredients, or
• anyone who has suffered a brain or nervous system disease within the first 7 days after receiving the vaccination.

Please speak with a physician prior to receiving the vaccine if your child has had a seizure or collapsed, cried non-stop for over 3 hours or had a fever over 105º F after receiving a dose of DtaP.

Most people benefit from receiving the flu vaccine. Anyone who would like to decrease the chances of getting the flu or spreading the flu to others can get the flu shot each year.

Protecting against hepatitis A, the HepA vaccine can be given between the 12th-23rd months of age. It is recommended that all children be vaccinated before they are over 1 year of age. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients. 

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual is pregnant or is moderately to severely ill at the time of the injection.

HepA is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) that can last from a few weeks to several months, but does not lead to chronic infection.

Specifically made to protect against the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the HepB vaccine is usually given beginning at birth, at the 2nd month of age and then at the 6th month of age. Some individuals who should NOT receive this vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients, which includes bakers yeast. 

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual is moderately or severely ill at the time of the injection.

HBV can be contracted through blood and bodily fluids and can cause serious chronic liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver and sometimes liver cancer and/or death.

Haemophilus Influenza type B (HIB) can be contracted through the air or by direct contact. HIB vaccination is commonly given in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 12th months of age and is recommended for all children under the 5 years of age. This vaccine can sometimes be included when other shots are given. Some individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients, or
• children under 6 weeks of age.

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual is moderately or severely ill at the time of the injection.

HIB can cause meningitis, an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. It has caused complications such as permanent brain damage, epiglottis (an infection that can block the windpipe and lead to serious, life threatening breathing problems), sepsis, arthritis, pneumonia and even death.

The HPV vaccine prevents the most common types of HPV which can cause cervical cancer in women and genital warts in males and females. With approximately 40 types of the virus, it is commonly spread through sexual contact and usually has no symptoms. The HPV vaccination prevents serious health problems like cervical cancer, which can sometimes lead to death. It is suggested that all women who are between 9 and 26 years of age should receive the vaccine. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients, or
• pregnant women. 

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual is moderately or severely ill at the time of the injection.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and women, but can also be given to boys and young men. Please discuss this option with your healthcare provider for more information.

Meningococcal vaccine is given to prevent Neisseria meningitides. The vaccine is usually required for all incoming college students, and is usually given between 12-13 years of age and a booster is sometimes given between 16-18 years of age. The vaccine may be necessary for some individuals with other medical conditions. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients, or
• individuals who have had Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual might be pregnant or is moderately to severely ill at the time of the injection.

MMR is the vaccine given, in two doses, to prevent measles, mumps and rubella. This vaccine is usually received between the ages of 12 months to 12 years of age. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone with severe immunodeficiencies (HIV/AIDS, have/had cancer, radiation, chemotherapy treatment or is receiving steroids or other drugs affecting the immune system), or
• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients.

Specifically the "live" version of this vaccine should not be given to individuals who are within these high risk health condition groups. The live version of the vaccine includes a weakened version of the disease that is being vaccinated against, instead of an inactive (killed) version of the disease.

MMRV is the vaccine given, in two doses, to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) and is usually only needed once in a person's lifetime. It is recommended that all children between the ages of 12 months to 12 years old receive this vaccine. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients, or
• anyone with severe immunodeficiencies (HIV/AIDS, have/had cancer, radiation, chemotherapy treatment or is receiving steroids or other drugs affecting the immune system).

Please speak with a physician if the individual has a personal or immediate family history of seizures, immune system problems, a blood disorder, may be pregnant or has had a recent blood transfusion.

Specifically the "live" version of the vaccine should NOT be given to these individuals who are in these high risk health condition groups. The live version of the vaccine includes a weakened version of the disease that is being vaccinated against, instead of an inactive (killed) version of the disease.

The Pneumococcal Pneumonia vaccine is given to prevent pneumonia that is caused by the Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. Protein Conjugate Vaccination (PCV) is given to children in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 12th months of age and before 5 years of age. The Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV) is given to adults over 65 years of age who have asthma or who smoke cigarettes. PPSV is also given to children over the age of 24 months who are at high risk for disease. Children who are at high risk for disease, who have severe immunodeficiencies, and who SHOULD get the vaccine include anyone with:

• HIV/AIDS,
• sickle cell,
• cancer, or
• other immunocompromising conditions.

Individuals who should not receive either vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction previously to the vaccination or any of its ingredients, or
• pregnant women.

Please speak with a physician before receiving the injection if the individual is moderately or severely ill at the time of the injection.

Polio is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system and used to be common in the United States until the introduction of the vaccine in 1955. Within the United States, the inactivated (killed) Polio Vaccine (IPV) is given to protect against polio and can be given at any age, in 4 doses. IPV is commonly given at the 2nd, 4th and then between 6th-18th months of age. A booster shot is given at 4-6 years of age. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction previously to the vaccination or any of its ingredients, or
• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B.

Please speak with a physician before receiving this injection if the individual is moderately or severely ill at the time of the injection.

Most people show no symptoms; however, minor symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, nausea, pain in the limbs, stiff neck and back. In few cases, a polio infection has resulted in permanent paralysis.

Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever; sometimes leading to dehydration. The RV vaccine prevents infections caused by rotavirus and is given at the 2nd, 4th and 6th months of age and finished before the 8th month of age. Children who should NOT receive this vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients.

Please speak with a physician if the child has had a severe combined immunodeficiencies (HIV/AIDS, cancer, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, steroids and other drug treatments that affect the immune system), has ever had intussusceptions (type of bowel blockage) or is moderately or severely ill at the time of injection.

TdaP is a combined vaccine that protects against diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). This vaccine is commonly given to adults and children over 7 years of age and is only needed once in an individual's lifetime. Td (tetanus and diptheria) can also be given to someone who cannot tolerate the pertussis vaccine or who has previously been vaccinated for pertussis. The Td vaccine requires a booster shot every 10 years. Individuals who should NOT receive the TdaP or Td vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination previously or any of its ingredients
• anyone who has had a coma or long seizures within 7 days of receiving the vaccine.

Please speak with a physician prior to receiving the vaccine if the individual has nervous system problems/diseases (i.e. epilepsy), severe swelling or pain after a previous dose of the vaccine or who has had Guillain Barre Syndrome.

The shingles vaccination prevents the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is a skin rash that commonly occurs with blisters. The risk of the disease increases with age, all adults 60 years or older are encouraged to get the vaccine. Individuals who should NOT receive the vaccine include:

• anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the shingles vaccine,
• women who are pregnant, or
• anyone with a severe immunodeficiency (HIV/AIDS, cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, steroids and other treatments that affect the immune system). 

Specifically the "live" version of this vaccination should NOT be given to these individuals who are in these high risk health condition groups.

Shingles usually occurs in people 50 years and older, individuals with medical conditions or individuals with compromised immune systems. Shingles develops after someone has had the chickenpox, but it can be years before it appears.