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IMMUNIZATIONS
Park Street Pediatrics
MON – FRI • 9am – 6pm
SAT • 9am – 2pm
SUNDAY – ON CALL
The physicians of Park Street Pediatrics actively support the immunization schedule endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We believe that childhood immunization has and continues to be one of the most critical drivers in improving the health of our society.
The Park Street Pediatrics maintains a “pro-vaccine” policy in our office to promote the health and safety of each patient and our community as a whole.
VACCINATION SAFETY
Over the last few years, many have questioned the safety of giving the increasing number of immunizations to young children. We feel this debate has been settled and the science clearly supports the safety and effectiveness of the current vaccine schedule.
Our two physicians combined have almost 60 years of experience in treating children. We have seen dramatic changes in the severity and amount of the diseases we treat, mainly due to the effects of vaccination. Here of some of the most notable.
- H. Flu meningitis, once a cause of brain damage or death, has almost disappeared.
- Hospitalizations for dehydration from Rotavirus are a thing of the past.
- Meningococcal meningitis rates have declined as the vaccine became widely utilized.
- We are watching HPV colonization rates decrease as the HPV vaccine becomes more widely accepted. This should dramatically reduce the incidence of cervical, oral, and other cancers caused by the strains of HPV included in the vaccine.
- We currently treat fewer ear infections due to the introduction of the Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV). In fact, we saw 70% fewer visits for middle ear infections in 2017 compared to 2007.
Vaccine Schedule For Children And Infants
We also strongly encourage annual vaccination against influenza for all patients over the age of 6 months. The flu vaccine does a fair job of preventing flu cases, but where it really shines is in preventing the severity and complications of the flu, including lowering the number of deaths caused by the flu.
We are often asked if it is possible to follow an alternative vaccine schedule that would allow some of the vaccines to be given when a child is older and perhaps better prepared to handle them. There is absolutely no evidence that delaying or spreading out vaccines makes them safer. In fact, delaying vaccine administration only serves to put a child at risk for contracting one of the vaccine-preventable diseases. Call us at (203) 840-7566 with any questions.
Simplified Immunization Schedule
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them
Varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Rash, tiredness, headache, fever
Complications: Infected blisters, bleeding disorders, encephalitis (brain swelling), pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria.
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Sore throat, mild fever, weakness, swollen glands in neck
Complications: Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death
Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: May be no symptoms unless bacteria enter the blood
Complications:Meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), intellectual disability, epiglottitis (life-threatening infection that can block the windpipe and lead to serious breathing problems), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death
HepA vaccine protects against hepatitis A.
Spread by: Direct contact, contaminated food or water
Symptoms: May be no symptoms, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), dark urine
Complications:Liver failure, arthralgia (joint pain), kidney, pancreatic, and blood disorders
HepB vaccine protects against hepatitis B.
Spread by: Contact with blood or body fluids
Symptoms: May be no symptoms, fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), joint pain
Complications:Chronic liver infection, liver failure, liver cancer
Flu vaccine protects against influenza.
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue
Complications: Pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
MMR vaccine protects against measles
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Rash, fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye
Complications: Encephalitis (brain swelling), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death
MMR vaccine protects against mumps
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Swollen salivary glands (under the jaw), fever, headache, tiredness, muscle pain
Complications: Meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (brain swelling), inflammation of testicles or ovaries, deafness
DTaP vaccine protects against pertussis (whooping cough)
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Severe cough, runny nose, apnea (a pause in breathing in infants)
Complications: Pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death
IPV vaccine protects against polio
Spread by: Air, direct contact, through the mouth
Symptoms: May be no symptoms, sore throat, fever, nausea, headache
Complications: Paralysis, death
PCV13 vaccine protects against pneumococcus
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: May be no symptoms, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
Complications: Bacteremia (blood infection), meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), death
RV vaccine protects against rotavirus
Spread by: Through the mouth
Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, vomiting
Complications: Severe diarrhea, dehydration
MMR vaccine protects against rubella
Spread by: Air, direct contact
Symptoms: Sometimes rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes
Complications: Very serious in pregnant women—can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, birth defects
DTaP vaccine protects against tetanus
Spread by: Exposure through cuts in skin
Symptoms: Stiffness in neck and abdominal muscles, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, fever
Complications: Broken bones, breathing difficulty, death
CDC Vaccine Guidance
Vaccines and Your Baby
In this video series, physicians at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explain how vaccines work and how they are made, and describes several vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Families share their stories of children affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fear
This video series answers questions many parents have about vaccines. It features the stories of several parents whose children suffered vaccine-preventable diseases.
