Parents do all kinds of things to protect their children. They put child locks on cabinet doors, keep medications out of reach, take them to the doctor to make sure they are healthy, and ensure they are traveling in a safe car seat or booster seat.
Another thing that parents can do to protect their children is to make sure they receive their immunizations. There are several diseases that, thanks to immunizations, parents do not have to worry about their children contracting. Diseases such as measles, mumps, diphtheria, pertussis and others are rarely seen due to immunizations.
Is your child up to date on their immunizations?
| Birth | Hepatitis B |
| 1-2 months | Hepatitis B |
| 2 months | *DTaP (diphtheria,tetanus,pertussis) *IPV (polio) *Hib (haemophilus influenza type B) PCV (pneumococcal disease) RV (rotovirus) |
| 4 months | *DTaP *IPV *Hepatitis B (if needed) *Hib PCV RV |
| 6 months | *DTaP *Hib (if needed) PCV RV |
| 6-18 months | *Hepatitis B IPV |
| 6 months to 18 years(yearly) | Influenza (flu) |
| 12-15 months | *Hib *MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) PCV *Varicella (chicken pox) |
| 12-23 months | Hepatitis A -2 doses 6 months apart |
| 15-18 months | *DTaP |
| 4-6 years (beforestarting school) | *MMR *DTaP *IPV Varicella |
| 11-12 years | MCV (meningococcal disease) *Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) HPV (human papillomavirus)-3 doseswith follow-up doses 2 and 6 months after first dose |
*=Vaccines required by North Carolina law
If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover vaccines; a federal program called Vaccines for Children provides vaccines free of charge. Ask your child’s medical provider if they participate in this program or call your local health department.
The Chatham County Public Health Department is an excellent resource if you have questions about immunizations. You may contact the health department at 919-742-5641 in Siler City or 919-542-8220 in Pittsboro.
All other vaccines listed are recommended.
