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Diseases That Newborns and Babies Are Immunized Against

The Center for Disease Control recommends certain vaccines a baby should receive starting at birth and continuing up to six months. Ask for an immunization schedule from your child's pediatrician and keep up with all the the shots she has in her baby book. Read up on each type of immunization so you know what side effects could affect your baby and ask your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding vaccination.

  1. Hepatitis B

    • Hepatitis B is the first vaccination your baby will receive---while he is still in the hospital. There are two more Hepatitis B injections that are given several months apart. This vaccine protects your newborn from contracting Hepatitis B, a disease affecting the liver. This series of vaccinations provides your child with permanent immunity from the disease.

    Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus

    • The DTap vaccine is a combination vaccine. It immunizes your child against Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus. Pertussis is a whooping cough illness. Tetanus is an illness that can cause lockjaw and Diptheria is a respiratory illness. The vaccines are given at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age. Altogether this is a series of five injections, with a booster given to older children.

    Pneumococcal Disease

    • PCV stands for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This vaccine prevents bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis. This shot is a series of four injections beginning at 2 months of age.

    Meningitis

    • The Hib vaccine also prevents meningitis and is also given in four separate administrations with the first three being 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age. This not only protects your child from meningitis but also other infections such as blood, bone and joint infections that occur with these types of illnesses.

    Polio

    • IPV is the Polio vaccination. This one is staggered into four injections with the first one given at 2 months o age. Polio can cause paralysis. Do not allow your child to be vaccinated against polio if he is allergic to neomycin or streptomycin or has had an allergic reaction to a previous IPV injection.

    Rotavirus

    • Rotavirus, or RV, causes diarrhea and possibly severely dehydration. If your child is in daycare this vaccine is especially important because rotavirus can be very easily spread in settings where there are many children. It is a liquid vaccine given at 2 months and 4 months of age.

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