Vaccines can give children immunity to harmful diseases. It's crucial to ensure children have all their pediatric immunizations and stay up to date on boosters. Thanks to medical advances, kids with complete vaccinations are protected from more diseases than ever.

At Health Services of North Texas, our team of doctors offers vaccines for children and adults in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX.

Keep reading to learn why up-to-date immunizations are an important way to keep kids and future generations safe and healthy.

What are the benefits of childhood vaccinations?

Vaccinations give children immunity from deadly and debilitating diseases, such as polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough, and measles, which can also cause chronic health issues for the rest of their lives.

Many decades of research have shown that vaccinations prevent diseases with minimal risk of side effects. They also help eradicate diseases throughout the population, protecting those who may be allergic to vaccines or too immunocompromised to get them. Many vaccines last into adulthood. (But if you're concerned, it's always wise to ask your doctor at Health Services of North Texas if it's time for a booster.)

What vaccines do children need?

Pediatric immunizations are scheduled based on recommendations by the CDC. Many of these vaccines require more than one dose or a later booster, so it's important to stick to the timelines suggested by the team at Health Services of North Texas.

If your child is not vaccinated, it's not too late to protect them from diseases that can be deadly, debilitating, or turn into chronic health conditions.

If you have a newborn, you have likely been asked to vaccinate them against hepatitis B at birth to kickstart their immune system and protect them from this liver disease. A second dose of the HepB vaccine and the first doses of five more vaccines are typically given to children at two months old. Other infant vaccines include

• RV (rotavirus)

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis)

• Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b)

• PCV (pneumococcal disease)

• IPV (polio)

At four months and again at six months old, infants should get the second and third doses of these five vaccines. At six months, your baby can also get their annual flu shot.

When they are between 12 – 15 months, children receive vaccines to protect them from:

• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)

• Varicella (chickenpox)

• HepA (hepatitis A)

They should also get a Hib booster and the fourth dose of PCV. Then, toddlers get the fourth dose of DTaP before they are 18 months old.

Most children finish getting their primary vaccines before entering school, between the ages of four and six. The final round of vaccines includes:

• The second dose of MMR and Varicella

• The fourth dose of IPV

• The fifth dose of DTaP

Your doctor will also talk to you about further immunization efforts for kids between the ages of 10 and 12, including:

• A TDaP booster

• A 2 to 3 dose course of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine

• A MenACWY (meningococcal conjugate) vaccine (and a booster at age 16)

• A MenB (serogroup B meningococcal) vaccine

Why is the childhood vaccination schedule important?

Sticking to a schedule when it comes to immunizing your child is about more than just convenience. Our immune systems need time to mount a defense, so the schedule is based on the optimal amount of time it takes for their system to build a response.

Get your child up to date on immunizations in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX

The Health Services of North Texas team has offices in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX, and we serve patients throughout Denton and Collin counties. If your child needs to be vaccinated or an adult needs a booster or new vaccine before heading to college or traveling to a part of the world where there are other risks, simply use this form to schedule an appointment.