Vaccines Specialist
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All Ages Pediatrics PC
Pediatrician & Physician - Primary Care located in Ottumwa, IA
A child’s immune system isn’t as well-developed as an adult’s. Vaccines are injections that improve your child’s immune health and offer protection from infectious diseases. At All Ages Pediatrics PC in Ottumwa, Iowa, experienced pediatrician Eric Dodson, DO, provides an array of vaccines to help your child stay well. To schedule an appointment to discuss vaccines for your child, call the office or book online today.
Vaccines Q & A
What are vaccines?
Vaccines are injections that protect your child from contagious diseases. Vaccines may contain a weakened or dead germ or a portion of the germ known to cause disease.
The germ in the vaccine won’t make your child sick. Instead, the vaccine triggers your child’s immune system to develop antibodies to the foreign substance.
When your child then comes in contact with the germ, their immune system uses those antibodies to prevent illness or lessen the severity of symptoms.
What vaccines does my child need?
Vaccinations, or immunizations, start at birth. The vaccines your child needs depends on their age and vaccination history.
Some of the vaccines available at All Ages Pediatrics PC include:
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
- Polio
- Pertussis
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Rotavirus
- Pneumococcal
- Flu
- Hib
- COVID-19 (when available)
All Ages Pediatrics PC follows the vaccination guidelines set by the CDC. These guidelines provide vaccination recommendations by age.
When possible, Dr. Dodson provides a combination of vaccines at one time. This helps decrease the number of injections your child gets.
Some vaccinations require a second or third dose set at specific intervals to ensure your child is well-protected.
Are vaccines safe?
Like many parents, you may have concerns about the safety of vaccines for your child. Vaccines are safe. They undergo rigorous testing before being offered to the general public and even more testing before given to children.
It’s not uncommon for children to develop soreness at the site of the injection or a mild fever. Serious reactions are rare.
Immunizations are the best protection you can offer your child against a contagious illness.
Can all children get vaccines?
In some situations, vaccines for children may not be recommended. For example, children with a history of an adverse reaction to a vaccine or children with severe allergies to any of the components in the vaccine.
Vaccines are also not recommended for immunocompromised children, which includes children born with immune deficits or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
Though not everyone can get vaccinated, most children can. Getting your healthy child the vaccines they need protects those children who can’t get vaccinated through herd immunity.
Vaccines are a preventive treatment that improves your child’s immune health. Call All Ages Pediatrics PC or book an appointment online today to schedule your child’s immunizations.
