Children's vaccinations

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your children healthy and safe. Childhood vaccinations are an important part of achieving that goal.

Children’s vaccines are safe, effective, tested therapies that protect your child from life-threatening diseases. At Advocate Health Care, our pediatricians follow national guidelines and recommendations for children’s immunizations. We share your goal: to provide the best protection for your whole family.

Why are childhood vaccines important?

Vaccines help protect your child from serious infectious diseases. Before children got vaccines, many of these illnesses led to death or left babies or children with lifelong health problems such as paralysis, deafness or organ damage. The development of vaccines has drastically reduced the effects of these once-common childhood diseases.

Vaccinating your child helps build their immunity before they’re exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Many infections are also contagious, passing easily from person to person. Vaccinations help prevent diseases from spreading to protect more people.

How do immunizations for children work?

Most vaccines contain a weakened or inactive (dead) virus or bacteria that cause specific diseases. These inactive germs don’t make your child sick or give them the disease. Instead, they help your child’s body create immune cells (antibodies) that recognize the specific virus or bacteria. Then, when your child encounters those germs, they have the antibodies to fight it off effectively.

Some vaccines, such as the COVID vaccine, don’t contain weakened or inactive germs. Instead, they contain molecules that tell your child’s body how to create certain proteins found on the virus or bacteria. These proteins trigger an immune response, which makes antibodies.

At what age should you vaccinate your child?

Children should get vaccinated for hepatitis B shortly after birth and again at 1 month old. They should receive their first round of routine immunizations at 2 months and first COVID vaccine at 6 months.

What are the childhood vaccines?

Your child needs several vaccinations to protect against disease, including:

• COVID vaccine protects against coronavirus disease 2019
• DTaP protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Flu shot protects against influenza
• HepA and HepB protect against hepatitis A and B
• Hib protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can cause serious complications like meningitis
• HPV protects against human papillomavirus (HPV)
• IPV protects against polio
• MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella
• PCV protects against pneumococcal disease
• RSV protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• RV protects against rotavirus
• Varicella protects against chickenpox

What are the five vaccines in pentavalent?

The pentavalent vaccine is a 5-in-1 vaccine to protect against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. It’s often used to vaccinate children in countries with less access to vaccines.

In the U.S., there are two versions of the pentavalent vaccine. One protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib). The other protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-HepB).

Immunization schedule for children

At Advocate, our pediatric primary care providers and their teams give your child vaccines during their checkup appointments. We follow the immunization schedule from the CDC. See the CDC’s vaccination schedules for:

• Birth through 6 years
• 7 to 18 years

Delayed vaccine schedule

Immunization schedules are designed to help protect your child during the months when they’re most likely to get a disease. It’s important to follow the schedule recommended by your child’s pediatrician or provider to keep your child safe.

If your child misses a dose of a necessary vaccine, talk with their pediatrician about an alternate schedule. Your child’s provider can offer recommendations to help them catch up.

When should my child not get vaccines?

Most children should get vaccinations as recommended by the CDC. In rare cases, your child’s pediatrician may recommend against getting certain vaccines if your child has:

• A history of a life-threatening reaction to a vaccine
• A disease or takes a medication that suppresses their immune system
• Cancer or another serious illness

What to expect during your child’s vaccination appointment

Depending on the vaccine type, your child may get an:

• Injection
• Mist to inhale
• Pill or liquid to swallow

Your child may experience mild side effects, such as fussiness or a low fever, for 24 to 48 hours after getting a vaccine. You can help relieve these side effects with at-home remedies, such as applying a cool washcloth, giving your child plenty of fluids and getting over-the-counter pain relievers, if your child’s pediatrician says it’s OK to do so.

If your child experiences a fear of needles, there are several steps you can take to make the visit go more smoothly for them. Learn how to manage the fear of needles.

Coordinated immunizations for kids

Our pediatricians offer all the recommended vaccines for children. You can expect:

• Fast, easy scheduling: We can get your child in quickly for a vaccination – sometimes on the same day.
• Experienced vaccination team: Our skilled team of doctors, advanced practice clinicians, physician assistants and medical assistants has special training in administering vaccinations to children. We work to make your child’s experience less stressful.
• Affordable options: Most health insurance plans cover recommended vaccines for children as part of preventive care. Contact your insurance company to see if your plan requires a copay. See a list of the insurance plans we accept.
• Vaccine history and reminders: With the LiveWell app and website, you can get reminders for the vaccines your child needs. You can also review your child’s health record to keep track of the vaccines they receive from any Advocate provider.

Children’s vaccinations: Resources for parents

These resources can help you learn more about immunizations for kids, get your child’s immunization record and find affordable vaccines:

• CDC information: The CDC provides comprehensive information about vaccines for your children in English and Spanish.
• Illinois state registry for immunizations: The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a registry of Illinois residents’ immunization records. You can request your child’s record at I-CARE.
• Free children’s vaccines: The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program offers free vaccines to eligible children through age 18.

To see your child’s immunization information in LiveWell, make sure your account is connected to your child’s via proxy access.