National Infant Immunization Week 2021

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate

As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions loosen across the country, it is important to continue to vaccinate your children. National Infant Immunization Week is April 24- May 1, 2021. This yearly observance highlights the importance of protecting children, two years and younger, from vaccine preventable diseases.

Vaccines have drastically reduced infant deaths and disabilities caused by preventable diseases in the U.S. Postponing early vaccines for babies and young children could create a vaccine gap and possibly expose your child to life threatening diseases like measles, pertussis or pneumococcus.

For children older than 2 years, waiting a little while to vaccinate may be fine in some cases. However, for children with special health conditions, or those who are behind on immunizations, waiting is not a good idea. Below are Legacy Community Health’s guidelines for immunizing your child.

All babies should receive their first shot of Hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth. Between the first to second months of life, your baby should receive these vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Pediatrix: combined Hepatitis B (HepB) (2^nd dose), Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (1^st dose) and Polio (IPV)  (1^st dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib)(1^st dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13)(1^st dose)
• Rotavirus (RV)(1^st dose)

At 4 months, your baby should receive vaccines to help protect against the following diseases:

• Pediatrix: combined Hepatitis B (HepB) (3^rd dose), Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (2^nd dose), Polio (IPV)  (2^nd  dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib)(2^nd dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13)(2^nd dose)
• Rotavirus (RV)(2^nd dose) (Legacy gives a two dose series so a third dose isn’t necessary)

At 6 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Pediatrix: combined Hepatitis B (HepB) (4th dose), Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) and polio (3^rd dose)
• Haemophilus Influenza type b disease (Hib) (3^rddose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13)(3^rd dose)

Starting at age 6 months, your baby should receive the flu vaccine for the first time. Between 12 and 24 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Chickenpox(Varicella) (1^st dose)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough(pertussis) (DTaP) (4^th dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib)(4^th dose)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)(1^st dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13)(4^th dose)
• Hepatitis A (HepA)(1^st dose)
• Influenza (Flu)(every year)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend children continue to attend well-child appointments and receive recommended vaccinations during the pandemic. If you are interested in vaccinating your child, contact your Legacy pediatrician or provider to discuss any questions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 832-548-5000 or visit our website.