Keep Your Children’s Immunizations Current

By Anna Peterson Sanders, pharmacist at Network Health

Being a parent is hard. Being a parent during the coronavirus outbreak definitely adds another layer of complexity to the job. From changes in learning and education to disruptions in school or daycare to lack of extracurricular activities that keep our kids active and engaged, parents are adapting to almost on a daily basis. Navigating the health care system during this time poses its own challenges as well. Though virtual visits are a terrific option, there are times when an in-person visit with your children might be essential. Immunizations is one of those times.

The importance of keeping up on your child’s vaccination schedule cannot be emphasized enough. Offering both short-term benefits, like helping prevent influenza infection for the upcoming flu season, and long-term benefits, such as minimizing the risk of cancers related to human papillomavirus infections, keeping up to date on vaccinations provides immense benefits and can even prove to be lifesaving. However, if your child is behind schedule, it is never too late to get up-to-date. There are catch-up schedules published and maintained by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that your personal doctor can reference. A few of the common vaccinations recommended during childhood are discussed below. For a complete list, please reach out to your child’s doctor. susceptible to coming down with pneumonia. Getting a flu vaccine

Human Papillomavirus While commonly misinterpreted to be an issue affecting just females, it is as important to get males vaccinated as it is females to help in long-term complications that can affect both sexes, such as cancers of the genitalia, mouth and throat.

Vaccine dosing schedule • Ages 9-14: Two-dose series, the first dose and again six to twelve months later • Nine years and older: One dose each year

• If receiving age at 15 or older: Three-dose series, the first dose, then one to two months later and the final at six-months Vaccine name: Gardasil 9

Chickenpox With the advent of the chickenpox vaccine, we can now provide immunity in a safe and controlled way. Serious risks posed with chickenpox infections can include brain swelling, bleeding disorders

Vaccine dosing schedule • Two-dose series at 12-15 months and again at four to six years of age Vaccine name: Varivax Influenza As we gear up for what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say could be a very difficult winter, ensure your entire family is protected against influenza. One of the more serious complications of influenza infections is that individuals are more will protect you and your loved ones as we all move indoors for the cold months.

Vaccine dosing schedule • Ages six months to eight years: One or two doses for the year, depending on previous influenza vaccine history and pneumonia, so this certainly isn’t a minor infection.

Vaccine names (age ranges for which they are approved vary) • Afluria, Fluad, Fluarix, FluLaval, Fluzone • Egg free: Flublok, Flucelvax • Intranasal: FluMist

Immunizations can be obtained at your doctor’s office or a pharmacy. If the pharmacy is more convenient and accessible to you and your family, you may want to call ahead to ensure they have a pharmacist on site to administer vaccines to pediatric patients and to confirm they have the necessary vaccines on hand. In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and stay vaccinated.