National Infant Immunization Week 2022

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate

National Infant Immunization Week is April 24- 30, 2022. 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 United States. Postponing early vaccines for babies and young children can create a vaccine gap and possibly expose your child to life threatening diseases like measles, pertussis or pneumococcus.

In 2020, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report discovered a significant drop in childhood vaccinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That trend continues to be low, which is why it’s so important to stay on top of your children’s routine checkups and recommended vaccine schedules. Below are Legacy Community Health’s guidelines for immunizing your child, between birth and the age-of-two.

All babies should receive their first shot of Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. Usually at the second month of life, your baby should receive these vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Pediarix: 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 four months, your baby should receive the vaccines below to help protect against the following diseases:

• Pediarix: 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 six-months-of-age, your baby should receive the following vaccines to protect them from these diseases:

• Pediarix: 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^rd dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (3^rd dose)

Starting at age six months, your baby should also receive the flu vaccine for the first time.

Between 12 and 24 months of age, your baby should get the list of vaccines below 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)

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, visit our website or call 832-548-8000.