It’s the understatement of the century to say that being a parent is frightening. You want to protect your newborn from everything and anything that could hurt their fragile and vulnerable bodies, especially diseases.

Thankfully, debilitating and potentially fatal diseases like polio, measles and pertussis (whooping cough) have become rare occurrences thanks to childhood vaccinations. Recent outbreaks of measles and pertussis serve as stark reminders that vaccines are crucial to protecting public health – not just for children but adults and older adults too.

Vaccinating your child can substantially lower their risk of contracting a disease that could follow them for the rest of their life. Following the recommended childhood immunization and booster schedule can not only protect your child but other children and immunocompromised people in your community. If a significant portion of people are immunized against a disease (herd immunity), it helps to shield the infants too young to get vaccinated yet as well as people who can’t safely be vaccinated.

Myths Surrounding Immunizations for Children

“Vaccines Cause Autism.”

The misconception that there’s a link between vaccines and autism originated from a discredited study published in 1998. Subsequent research involving millions of children has repeatedly and conclusively debunked this claim. The overwhelming consensus among medical experts is that vaccines do not cause autism.

“Vaccines Contain Harmful Ingredients.”

Some parents express concerns about thimerosal in vaccines, a preservative containing mercury. However, thimerosal has been removed from most childhood vaccines since 1999, and extensive studies have found that there was no evidence of the ingredient causing harm since it was only present in small amounts.

“Natural Immunity is Better."

While natural infection can provide immunity, it often comes at a significant cost to those who can’t survive natural infection. Some of the diseases vaccines protect against, like polio, Hepatitis B, measles and HPV, can have permanent or long-term repercussions on survivors. Vaccine-induced immunity offers a safer and more controlled way to protect children without exposing them to the risks and life-long complications associated with many diseases.

“Vaccines Weaken the Immune System.”

Vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce protective antibodies without compromising its overall function. They ultimately strengthen the immune system by preparing it to recognize and fight specific pathogens.

“My Child Can Catch the Disease From the Vaccine.”

Vaccines cannot cause the disease they protect against. They contain inactivated or weakened pathogens that imitate the infection, allowing the immune system to build a defense against it without causing the illness.

Vaccines undergo rigorous safety and efficacy tests before they are given to the public, and the most common complications children experience afterward are temporary soreness around the injection site and a low-grade fever, which are signs the vaccine is working.

Comprehensive Timeline of Childhood Immunizations

Birth to Two Months:

• Hepatitis B (HepB)

Two Months:

• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV)
• Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13)
• Rotavirus (RV)

Four Months:

• DTaP
• Hib
• IPV
• PCV13
• RV

Six Months:

• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV13
• RV

Six Months to Two Years (as needed):

• Influenza (Flu)

12 to 15 Months:

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• HepB

Four to Six Years:

• DTaP
• IPV
• MMR
• Varicella

11 to 12 Years:

• Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

16 to 18 Years (as needed):

• Meningococcal B (MenB)

What if My Child Misses a Vaccine Dose?

Your healthcare provider can recommend a catch-up schedule, but staying on track with vaccinations will ensure optimal immunity for your child.

We Help Houston Parents Keep Up With Childhood Vaccination Schedules

At St. Hope Pharmacy, our pharmacists have helped parents vaccinate their children for years. As a full-service pharmacy, our doors are open to anyone, regardless of whether you’re a patient of St. Hope Healthcare or not. We’ll help you stay on track with childhood vaccinations so your child is protected against these serious and preventable diseases.

Stop by or call one of our six locations in Bellaire, Conroe, Houston, Sugar Land and Dickinson today and schedule a vaccination for your child.