Vaccines Specialist

Why are vaccines important for my child’s health?

Contagious diseases such as measles haven’t been eradicated; they just stay under control when most children get their vaccinations. When fewer than 90% of children are vaccinated, contagious diseases can once again appear and quickly spread through the community.

In addition to keeping contagious diseases at bay, vaccines are important because children’s immune systems are still immature. As a result, they’re vulnerable to infections and illnesses that frequently cause complications. For example, measles often leads to earaches, pneumonia, and encephalitis or swelling of the brain.

How do vaccines work?

After your child receives a vaccination, their immune system produces antibodies against the disease or infection. Should they encounter the disease in the future, their antibodies immediately activate the immune system. Then the immune system mounts a defense, sending out cells that neutralize or eliminate the infection before your child gets sick.

What is the Vaccines for Children program?

The team at Cool Kidz Pediatrics offers all the vaccines included in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, as well as the full range of private vaccines. The VFC program pays the cost of vaccines for children aged 18 and younger who qualify for the program. 

Your child may qualify for VFC program vaccines if they’re:

• Medicaid eligible
• Uninsured
• Underinsured
• American Indian or Alaska native

If you have questions about the VFC program, call the office, and we’ll help you determine if your child is eligible.

What vaccinations does my child need?

Children’s vaccinations are administered at well-child checkups following a specific schedule. Keeping up with the schedule is important because many vaccinations require more than one dose to build up to the proper level of immunity. Since each dose is injected at specific intervals, sticking with the vaccine schedule ensures your child is on track for full immunization.

Keeping your appointments during your child’s first few years also means they’ll be up to date when it’s time to enter school. Vaccinations administered from birth throughout the teen years protect from diseases such as:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Chickenpox
• Whooping cough
• Hepatitis
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Pneumonia
• Diphtheria
• Blood infections
• Ear infections
• Bacterial meningitis
• Diarrheal disease

Beginning at the age of six months, your child should also receive a flu vaccination every year.

If you need to schedule a vaccination or you aren’t sure if your child is up-to-date with their immunizations, call Cool Kidz Pediatrics, or use the online booking feature.