Is Your Child or Teen Up-to-Date on Immunizations? Here's What You Should Know

It's hard to keep track of all the vaccines your child has had or needs over the years, especially if you changed pediatricians at some point. You may not think that keeping up with every needed or new vaccine is important, but it is if you want to help keep your child healthy. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccinations are one of the best ways parents can protect their children from potentially harmful diseases that can be very serious, may require hospitalization, or even be deadly. At Wasatch Peak Family Practice in Layton, Utah, we have the information you need to know about vaccinating your child or teen.

Some vaccines require multiple doses

While you may think that your child is protected against certain diseases such as chickenpox or pertussis after they receive a vaccine, many diseases require multiple doses for your child to be fully protected. 

You can catch up on your vaccines

If you've missed some shots in a series of vaccines, you can make them up when you're ready. You don't need to get the whole series again — you can pick up where you left off.

New vaccines enter the market

Over the years, new vaccines have been developed that protect your children against diseases that we were not protected from when we were children. In fact, new vaccines come on the market all the time. Also, sometimes doctors change their recommendations. If a certain vaccine wasn't available when your teen was a child, they can still get it. 

Immunity takes time to build up

Once you get your shot, it can take the body10 to 14 days or more to build immunity against a disease. So, if you're getting a vaccine to protect you against a travel-related disease, make sure to get the vaccines far in advance of your trip.  

Vaccines are not just for kids

If you followed your pediatrician's recommended schedule of vaccines, your teen will most likely be caught up on what they need, except for, maybe, a Tdap booster shot, before they head to college. If the HPV vaccine, which protects against the human papillomaviruses that cause most cervical, anal, and other cancers, as well as genital warts, was not offered or available when your child was a preteen, they should get the recommended doses as a teenager. Plus, everyone over six months old should get the flu shot every year. 

For more information on what vaccines your child or teen has had or needs, call Wasatch Peak Family Practice or make an appointment online.