National Infant Immunization Week April 23-30, 2011

National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. This year, it is scheduled to be held April The Upper Valley will join communities across the United States and in more than 100 other countries around the world to celebrate the critical role vaccination plays in safeguarding our children, communities and public health. National Infant Immunization Week Here are a few things every parent should know about vaccines for infants.

Why Vaccinate? Vaccines provide immunity to certain diseases. A person who is immune has defenses against a disease, so they don't get infected if they are exposed to it. Getting children vaccinated can protect them from some very serious diseases. But that's not all. Vaccination can also: Protect their friends, schoolmates, and others from those same diseases. Some children can't get certain vaccines for medical reasons, or rarely, vaccines may fail to give immunity. For these children, the immunity of people around them is their only protection. Protect future generations from diseases. If we stopped vaccinating, diseases that are under control now would come back to cause epidemics. Help rid the world of diseases that have been crippling and killing children for centuries.

Vaccines for Your Baby From birth to age 15 months, your baby will need these vaccinations: DTaP a combined vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) HepA protects against hepatitis A HepB protects against hepatitis B Hib protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b Influenza protects against influenza (flu) MMR protects against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles) PCV protects against pneumococcal disease Polio protects against polio, the vaccine is also known as IPV RV protects against infections caused by rotavirus Varicella protects against varicella, also known as chickenpox

DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) Diphtheria Caused by a bacterium Can be spread to others by coughing or sneezing A child with diphtheria can infect others for 2 to 4 weeks. Initially causes sore throat, fever and chills If not diagnosed and treated, can cause heart failure or paralysis About 1 person out of 10 who get diphtheria dies from it. Diphtheria used to be a major cause of childhood illness and death in the U.S. Tetanus Tetanus does not spread from person to person. The bacteria that cause tetanus are usually found in soil, dust, and manure. They enter the body through breaks in the skin. When tetanus gets into the body it can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear. The bacteria make a toxin, which spreads through the body, causing painful muscle spasms in the neck, arms, legs, and stomach. Children with tetanus might have to spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Caused by a bacterium A child with pertussis coughs violently and rapidly, over and over, until the air is gone from her lungs and she is forced to inhale with the loud “whooping” sound. Pertussis is one of the most common vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the U.S. It is a very contagious disease, spread through personal contact, coughing and sneezing. Recently in California, about 7 children reportedly died. Pertussis is most severe in infants less than 1 year old. More than half of infants who get the disease must be hospitalized. Older children and adults can get pertussis too, but it is usually not as serious. Many infants who get pertussis catch it from their older brothers and sisters, or from their parents — who might not even know they have the disease.

Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter — even in microscopic amounts — from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces, or stool, of an infected person. Children should get the hepatatis A vaccine at 1 year of age.

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B, which can lead to liver disease, is caused by the hepatitis B virus. Spread through contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person, although about 30-40% of infections have occurred in people without any risk factors. Children are more vulnerable living in homes with carriers. Pregnant women can infect their newborn babies. People usually recover from "acute" hepatitis B infection after several weeks. Others become “chronically infected.” They continue to carry the virus and can infect other people. An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the U.S. have chronic hepatitis B infection. Many people who are chronically infected will suffer serious problems, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. After routine hepatitis B vaccination of children began in 1990, rates of acute hepatitis B in the U.S. have fallen by about 82%.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type B) Not long ago, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children <5 years old. In the mid-1980s, it struck 1 in 200 children in that age group. About 1 in 4 of these children suffered permanent brain damage. About 1 in 20 died. Hib disease is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing, and even breathing. An infected child can spread the disease to others as long as the bacteria remain in the body.

Influenza (Flu) The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Children younger than 2 years are at high risk for flu-related complications, such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and dehydration. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. Babies can get the flu vaccine starting at 6 months of age.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Measles Measles is a viral illness It spreads through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. It is so contagious that any child who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease. It is most contagious before the rashes appear. Up to 1 in 20 children with measles get pneumonia. About 1 in 1,000 get encephalitis (swelling of the brain) 1 or 2 in 1,000 die. Measles can make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage or give birth prematurely. Before the measles vaccine:  Nearly all children got measles by age 15.  450 people died from measles each year  48,000 were hospitalized  7,000 had seizures  1,000 suffered permanent brain damage or deafness. Measles is almost gone from the United States, but still common in other parts of the world. Infections have occurred recently in Massachusetts and New York City. Mumps Caused by the mumps virus Spread from person to person through the air Causes swelling of the cheeks and jaw, a result of inflamed salivary glands. Leads to meningitis (swelling of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord) in about 1 in 10 children who get the disease. Before a vaccine was available, mumps was a very common childhood illness, with about 152,000 cases each year. Now mumps is very uncommon. Rubella Sometimes called "German” or “3-day” measles. The greatest danger from rubella is to unborn babies. If a woman gets rubella early in pregnancy, there is an 80% chance that her baby will be born deaf or blind, with a damaged heart or small brain, or mentally retarded. This is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The last major rubella epidemic in the U.S. was in , when about 12.5 million people got the disease, and 20,000 babies were born with CRS. Vaccination has made rubella very uncommon today.

PCV (Streptococcus pneumoniae ) Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). There are different types of pneumococcal disease, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, and otitis media. Pneumococcal disease can be fatal. In some cases, it can result in long-term problems, like brain damage, hearing loss, and limb loss. Pneumococcus is in many people's noses and throats and is spread by coughing, sneezing, or contact with respiratory secretions. Why it suddenly invades the body and causes disease is unknown. Pneumococcal vaccine is very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. However it is not guaranteed to prevent infection and symptoms in all people. The vaccine is routinely given to infants as a series of 4 doses, one dose at each of these ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and months.

Polio (IPV) Polio is a viral disease that has caused paralysis in millions of children worldwide over the years. Polio reached a peak in the U.S. in the 1950s. After the polio vaccine was put to use, polio disappeared from the U.S. Even though there is no polio in the U.S., it is still common in some parts of the world.

RV (Rotavirus) Rotavirus can cause severe diarrhea in infants and young children. Rotavirus is very contagious. People who get a rotavirus infection shed large amounts of the virus in their feces. The disease spreads when infants or young children get rotavirus in their mouth. This happens through contact with the hands of other people or objects (such as toys) that have been contaminated with small amounts of rotavirus. Before rotavirus vaccines were available in the United States, more than 200,000 young children each year received care in hospital emergency departments for rotavirus disease, and 55,000 to 70,000 young children were hospitalized. Two rotavirus vaccines are available. Both vaccines are given by mouth and both are very effective (85% to 98% in the original studies) in preventing severe rotavirus disease in infants and young children.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The most notable symptom is an itchy rash all over the body. It is spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or breathing. It can also be spread by contact with the rash. Chickenpox was, until recently, a very common childhood disease. Before there was a vaccine, almost everyone got it. Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can cause serious problems, such as pneumonia, cellulitis, and scarring. If a woman gets chickenpox just before or after giving birth, her baby can get very sick, and about 1 in 3 of these babies will die if not treated quickly. After a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Years later, it can cause a painful disease called shingles (herpes zoster).

Vaccines Work!

For More Information American Academy of Pediatrics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Every Child by Two Immunization Action Coalition National Network for Immunization Information New Hampshire Immunization Program Vaccine Education Center

Mascoma Valley Health Initiative 1192 Route 4, Canaan, NH (603)