Vaccines
TRACKING VACCINES
By Dana Sullivan
With all the vaccines required in your child's first year of life,
including new additions to the list of required immunizations in some
states, it can be hard to keep track of which vaccines your child needs
and when.
Making this issue even more confusing is the fact
that for much of this year there have been shortages and delays in the
distribution of several vaccines, including diphtheria, tetanus and
pertussis (DTaP), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chicken
pox), and pneumococcal (PCV). In some cases, there may not have been
enough of one or more of these vaccines to give your infant at the
recommended time. While your pediatrician will inform you what your
baby needs and when, as the parent, it's ultimately your responsibility
to see that your child gets the required immunizations.
The chart below outlines the most recent schedule recommended by the
American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease
Control. To help keep track of which vaccinations your child has
received, print out a copy of this and bring it to the doctor's office
with you for each visit, noting the date administered and lot number of
each vaccine. If your child isn't able to receive the prescribed
vaccine due to a shortage, note which one it is and check in with your
pediatrician periodically to see if they've received a new batch.
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About The Author
Nevada-based freelance writer Dana Sullivan is a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today and also writes for Fit Pregnancy and Parenting. She's mom to Liam, 4, and Julia, 2.
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