Infant Immunizations

Infant Immunizations, What Infants Need To Be Protected During Their First Year Of Life And Beyond!

Infant Immunization Week will be celebrated April 21 - April 28, 2018. This is a time to increase awareness of immunizations and how they protect your child and those around them. Vaccines help to protect people from diseases that can make them very ill, cause permanent injury, even death.

A baby is born with limited protection against some diseases if their mother is current with her immunizations. Infants should receive their first immunization before they ever leave the hospital and be fully immunized against 14 diseases before their second birthday.

To understand how vaccines work, it is helpful to first look at how the body fights illness. When germs such as bacteria or viruses invade the body, they attack and multiply. This invasion is called an infection and the infection is what causes you to feel sick.

The first time the body encounters a germ, it must develop a defense to fight it off. This process is done by the immune system and can take several days. Once infected, the immune system remembers how to protect the body against that specific germ, so the next time you are exposed to it, your body can respond faster to protect you against illness.

Vaccines work much like the body’s natural immune system, they help your body develop a defense (immunity) by imitating an infection. The vaccines do not cause you to get the disease/infection, but as your immune system develops it defenses, it is possible to experience minor symptoms like a fever or body aches, but you do not get the actual disease. This process also takes time (days to weeks), therefore, it is possible for you to get the disease even though you have been vaccinated, if you were exposed to the disease before your body developed its defenses against the germ(s).

All health insurance plans cover infant immunizations. Vaccinations are also available Free of Charge to children 0-18 years of age through the federally funded Vaccine for Children Program (VFC). To be eligible for the VFC program, a child must be uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid eligible, American Indian, or American Eskimo. This program is available through your medical provider and your local Health Department.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding immunizations please contact your medical provider or the Washburn County Health Department @ 715-635-4400.

Resources: Local medical providers, clinics, hospitals and the Washburn County Health Department. The resources used for this article can be found at www.cdc.gov.