Vaccines for children

If you have a child under age 6, you’ll want to know about vaccines, such as hep B, polio, MMR and varicella. Talk with your child’s doctor about vaccines and when to have your child immunized.

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About vaccines

Vaccines are given to children, beginning at birth, to protect them from serious diseases. Many vaccines require booster shots (another dose) later in childhood. Vaccines protect your child and others they come in contact with at home and in school.

In most cases, vaccines are safe. They do not cause autism or diseases on the autism spectrum. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control.

About the hepatitis B vaccine

The hep B vaccine is recommended for babies at birth. A booster shot is given 1-2 months after the first dose. A third dose is given 6-18 months later.  

The vaccine protects against the hepatitis B virus, a disease that can cause liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer or death. Infants could get the disease from their mother at birth. If the mother is infected, there is a 90 percent chance her baby will develop the virus. Most babies are protected if the vaccine is given within 12 hours of birth.

In 2014, the Minnesota Department of Health* reported 443 births to women with hepatitis B. Due to the vaccine, only three infants got the disease in the same year

About the polio vaccine

The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is recommended for children at age 2 months. Booster shots follow at ages 4 months, 6-18 months and 4-6 years.

The vaccine protects against polio. The virus spreads through contact with bowel movements of an infected person (for example, when changing diapers) or from contaminated food or water.

Polio attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis. The vaccine has nearly wiped out the disease in the United States. The last case in Minnesota was reported in 2008.* However, the disease still exists in other parts of the world and could be brought back into the country.

About the MMR vaccine

The MMR vaccine is recommended for children age 12-15 months. A booster shot is given at age 4-6 years.

The vaccine protects against these viruses:

• Measles is highly contagious and causes a rash, fever, cough, runny nose or watery eyes
• Mumps causes swollen glands between the ear and the jaw
• Rubella (also called German measles) causes a rash, low-grade fever, cough and swollen glands

These diseases can cause significant birth defects. In addition, these diseases can be more severe in infected adults.

These three diseases are rare in Minnesota* and the United States, but the viruses can be spread by infected people who come to the state. That’s why maintaining high rates of MMR immunization in children is important for preventing these diseases.

About the varicella vaccine

The varicella vaccine is recommended for children age 12-15 months. A booster is given at age 4-6 years.

The vaccine protects against chickenpox. The virus is contagious and causes a rash with fever. There is no treatment, but calamine lotion and oatmeal baths help relieve itching. This disease can be more severe for adults who get it.

Over the last 15 years, incidence of chickenpox declined in Minnesota* due to the vaccine. In 2015, the state had 361 probable or confirmed cases of chickenpox.

Other vaccines for children

There are other important childhood vaccines required by schools and daycare centers. These vaccines help protect young children from the following serious infections:

• DTaP vaccine: Protects against diphtheria (a bacterial infection that interferes with breathing), tetanus (a bacterial infection that causes lockjaw) and pertussis or whooping cough (a bacterial disease that affects the lungs)
• Hib vaccine: Protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can cause meningitis, pneumonia or infections in the blood or in other parts of the body
• PCV vaccine: Protects against pneumococcal disease, a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia, meningitis and infections in the blood
• Hep A vaccine: Protects against hepatitis A, a virus that causes infections in the liver

Minnesota schools and daycare centers also recommend but do not require:

• RV vaccine: Protects against rotavirus, an infection that causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and fever that can lead to dehydration or death