What are vaccines?
A vaccine is a preventive product that protects you against certain diseases, such as measles or chickenpox. Vaccines contain a small amount of the same germs that cause the disease itself to stimulate your body’s immune system. This triggers your immune system to produce antibodies that fight the disease.
While most medicines treat diseases and viruses after you already have them, a vaccine prevents it from infecting you in the first place.
Are vaccines dangerous?
As a parent, you want the best for your child. While vaccines do contain a small amount of the germs that cause certain viruses, it isn’t enough to make you sick because the germs themselves are killed or weakened.
Over the years, parents have voiced concern that some vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine, can cause autism. Fortunately, numerous studies show that is not the case. Though vaccines can cause side effects, there’s no link between autism and immunization.
Experts agree that vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and help protect children against potentially dangerous diseases.
What are the side effects of vaccines?
Most people experience very few, if any, side effects from vaccines. However, some of the most common vaccine side effects include:
- Soreness or swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Mild fever
- Joint pain
- Sore muscles
- Chills
- Headache
These are signs that your body is beginning to build immunity to protect itself against the disease.
Which vaccines does my child need?
Your child will likely need many vaccines from birth until they turn 18. Dr. Ferrand and Dr. Moawad can walk you through your child’s full immunization schedule — a helpful guide that tells you at which age your child needs each vaccine.
The most common vaccines that Pediatrics of Long Island provides are:
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
- Influenza (flu)
- Hepatitis B
- Rotavirus
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Acellular pertussis
- Hepatitis A
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide
- Inactivated poliovirus
- Varicella
Pediatrics of Long Island has a team of experienced pediatricians to safely administer vital vaccines to protect your children. To schedule an appointment with the team, call Pediatrics of Long Island or book a visit online today.
