List of Children Vaccines

We use child-safety locks, place dangerous objects out of reach and use child safety seats for traveling, all out of concern for our children's health and safety. Vaccines are another important method of keeping children healthy by preventing infectious diseases. Outbreaks of deadly diseases, such as polio, pertussis and smallpox, that have historically killed millions of children are preventable by vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DTaP

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, diphtheria infected approximately 150,000 people in the United States and killed 15,000 during the 1920s. Symptoms include a thick coating over the back of the throat which causes breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and occasionally death. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory tract infection that causes severe coughing episodes making it impossible for an infant to breathe, eat or drink, as stated by the CDC. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pertussis can continue for weeks and lead to seizures, brain damage, pneumonia and death. Tetanus, or lockjaw, is a bacteria that enters a cut in the skin from sharp objects, ear or tooth infections, severe burns or animal bites, as stated by the AAP. Creating a tightening of the muscles all over the body, Tetanus causes death in one out of 10 cases. All these inflictions can largely be prevented with the DTaP vaccination.

MMR

• The MMR vaccine is a series of injections to build an immunity against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles, one of the most contagious diseases of modern day according to the CDC, is characterized by a rash, coughing and fever, and if left untreated, can lead to pneumonia, seizures and death. Mumps is noticeable by the swollen glands under the jaw, aches and a loss of appetite. Rubella, also called the German measles, is considered a mild illness where patients suffer from a rash for approximately three days, run a fever and have swollen glands.

Hepatitis A and B

• Vaccines for hepatitis A and B are two different vaccinations that prevent infection of the liver. Both types of hepatitis have symptoms of a loss of appetite, jaundice and nausea. Hepatitis A also causes fever and tiredness, and some people will show no symptoms at all. Other sufferers may have a mild to severe illness, and approximately 100 people die in the U.S. per year as a result of Hepatitis A, according to the CDC. Hepatitis B can cause vomiting, rashes and joint pain, and result in severe liver disease or even cancer.

RV

• The RV vaccine protects against the rotavirus, the most common factor in severe diarrhea. Symptoms of the rotavirus include fever, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea that lasts for three to eight days. According to the CDC, approximately 55,000 children become hospitalized due to symptoms resulting from the rotavirus.

Hib

• The Hib vaccine prevents haemophilus influenzae type B, an illness caused by bacteria. Haemophilus influenzae can lead to meningitis, in which mental retardation, disability and death can occur. This illness is especially serious with infants and children under five-years-old.

PCV

• The PCV vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease. This disease is a bacterial infection found in the lungs and approximately 25 percent of the population carry the bacteria without showing signs of sickness. When the disease enters the bloodstream and brain causing meningitis, symptoms include coughing with mucous and pain, a high fever, uncontrollable shaking from chills and a loss of breath. Pneumococcal disease can lead to hospitalization or even death.

IPV

• The polio virus is prevented by the IPV vaccination. This virus lives in the intestines and throat. Symptoms of infection include headache, weakened muscles, sore throat, fever and pain. According to the CDC, 1 percent of victims will suffer from paralysis, and 5 percent of those paralyzed can die from suffocation due to the virus.