1. Childhood Immunization
Part 1

2. Shots Hurt! Why Do We Give Them?
Vaccines work!
Vaccines are the MOST effective preventive measure that modern medicine has derived

3. A Brief Intro into the Biology of Vaccines
Antigens are substances our bodies view as FOREIGN
Our immune system recognizes FOREIGN antigens and mounts an immune response, in the form of ANTIBODIES to eliminate it.
After the antigen has been eliminated the immune system retains a memory of that antigen: next time it appears the antibody response is faster and stronger!!

4. Germs are Antigenic
The proteins and sugars on the walls of viruses and bacteria are FOREIGN
Your body makes antibodies to fight them off

5. Theory of Vaccines
Present the body with a germ antigen that can not produce disease
Body will produce antibodies to the germ
This will prevent disease if the body later encounters that germ, because the antibodies will fight off the germ before it has a chance to make you sick

6. Vaccine Types
Live vaccines: attenuated, must reproduce to produce immune response
Killed vaccines: pieces (sugars or proteins) of the germ wall, can not reproduce
Conjugated vaccines: germ sugar attached to a protein to enhance immune response

7. Immunization Schedule for ages 0-6

8. Immunization schedule for ages 7-18 years

11. Summary of Immunization Strategies
Total Eradication: Smallpox, Polio (possibly)
Herd Effect: Childhood immunization programs
Ring Approach: Immunize those individuals at risk due to potential exposure (meningitis)
Selective Approach: Influenza

12.
The website above provides a general overview of vaccines, their schedules, and commonly asked questions.