Contrary to what many people believe, babies aren’t born with no or low immunity. In fact, their little immune systems are already developed enough to be able to fight off most germs. However, it is the serious and potentially deadly diseases that their immune system isn’t yet equipped to handle. As a result, they need to have vaccines to strengthen their immune system and keep them safe from these harmful diseases. 

 

What Do Vaccines Do?

Vaccines help your immune system to do its job more efficiently, giving you better protection from the serious diseases that could otherwise threaten your health. Vaccines use altered versions of the disease that contain very small amounts of antigens. These antigens are the part of germs that trigger your child’s immune system to produce antibodies that fight against the disease. Not only that, but your child’s body will remember key defining elements of the vaccine so that if they ever come across the germs again – their bodies will automatically fight it off, preventing your little one from becoming unwell. This is important since whilst natural immunity happens after you get sick, with these serious diseases it is too risky to let them develop. Instead, vaccines are the best type of protection. 

In addition to protecting your baby, vaccines will also protect the people around them. This concept, known as community immunity, is important since there are some groups of people who may not be able to have some of the vaccines that protect them from serious diseases. In getting vaccinated, you can ensure that your baby can’t become a carrier that could pass dangerous illnesses onto others. 

 

You can protect your baby against 14 potentially serious diseases before the age of 2 if you get them vaccinated

As parents, protecting the health and life of our children is our biggest priority. One of the best ways to do this is through immunizations. There are many different dangerous diseases that can affect them, but by ensuring your baby receives their childhood vaccinations, you could protect them from as many as 14 of these before their second birthday. 
 

Some of the serious diseases that can be prevented, and their vaccines include the following:

• Chickenpox (Varicella) 

• Diphtheria (DTaP – combination vaccine against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) 

• Haemophilus Influenzae (Hib)

• Hepatitis A (HepA)

• Hepatitis B (HepB)

• Influenza (Flu vaccine)

• Measles (MMR – combination vaccine against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)

• Mumps (MMR)

• Pertussis (DTaP)

• Polio (IPV)

• Pneumococcal (PCV13)

• Rotavirus (RV)

• Rubella (MMR)

• Tetanus (DTaP)

Your pediatrician will be able to advise you which vaccinations your baby needs and at what ages they should be administered. Since they are only small, some vaccines may need to be delivered multiple times in smaller doses in order to effectively build up your baby’s immune system. It is crucially important that you stick to the schedule of vaccines recommended by your pediatrician as this will ensure that your baby receives their vaccines at the right time in order to achieve total protection against these preventable diseases.

If you would like more information about how vaccines strengthen your baby’s immune system, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our pediatric team, please contact our offices in Elmhurst, NY and Jackson Heights, NY today.