1. POLIO

Polio is a paralysis-causing disease caused by a virus called poliovirus. It is contagious and spread from one person to another; it invades the central nervous system, leading to paralysis. The United States became polio-free due to increased vaccination efforts in 1979. It has been able to sustain the polio-free status. However, polio is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. To keep kids safe from contracting this paralytic disease, vaccination is the sure bet. Ensure you vaccinate your baby against polio.

Medical Advice: It is recommended that children get four shots of polio vaccine at these ages:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 12-23 months
• 4-6 years

2. TETANUS

Tetanus is another disease with varying levels of severity that ranges from muscle stiffness to fatality. Tetanus infection results from poking, scraping, scratching, or slicing with rusted metal. The tetanus vaccine comes in a combination called DTaP. This vaccine confers protection against whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, and diphtheria.

Medical Advice: Every child needs five doses of DTaP to keep them protected against these diseases. A dose is necessary at these ages:

• 1 – 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 – 23 months
• 4 – 6 years

3. THE FLU (INFLUENZA)

Like the SARS COV 2, flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus and infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs). Its severity differs by age group, the strength of the immune system, and state of the health of the affected individual. It can be particularly dangerous in children giving a wide range of symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, aches, coughing, fatigue, and fever. Flu leads to the hospitalization and death of healthy children in the United States annually. Children younger than six months can contract flu but cannot be vaccinated against it; however, they can get secondary immunity if the mother was vaccinated during pregnancy and close contacts of the child are immune to flu. However, children that are older than six months should be vaccinated against flu annually.

Medical Advice: It is recommended that children are vaccinated for flu on an annual basis, starting from six months. For the first vaccination, if a child is younger than nine years, two doses separated by 28 days may be recommended.

4. HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B is a killer disease, leading to the death of more than 780,000 people annually on the global landscape. It is an infectious disease spread through body fluids and blood. It can also be vertically transmitted from mother to child during delivery. 90% of babies who contract hepatitis through mother-child transmission become chronically infected. It is advised that babies get their first shot of the Hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth. All pregnant women should also be tested and vaccinated.

Medical Advice: Children need three shots of Hepatitis B Vaccine for protection. They should be vaccinated at the following ages:

• Shortly after birth
• 1-2 months
• 6 months

5. HEPATITIS A

There has been a marked reduction in Hepatitis A in the United States since 1995, when the Hepatitis A vaccine was developed. Hepatitis A is an infectious liver disease that is primarily transmitted through food and water and transmitted from person to person. To keep your baby Hepatitis A free, ensure they get vaccinated.

Medical Advice: To be vaccinated against hepatitis A, children should get a dose of the vaccine at these ages:

• 12-23 months
• 6 months after the first dose

6. RUBELLA

It is an infection that is transmitted by respiratory droplets produced during sneezing and coughing. Rubella is a fatal infection to fetuses and neonates, so it is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman is unvaccinated and gets infected, it could lead to miscarriage or the baby’s death soon after birth. If the child survives despite the infection, s(he) is left with birth defects.  It is important for pregnant women and newborns are protected from this disease through timely vaccination.

Medical Advice: Children need two shots of MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine to be safe from Rubella. They should be vaccinated at these ages:

• 12-23 months
• 4-6 years

7. HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA TYPE B (Hib)

Due to increased vaccination drive, this disease is almost extinct. It destroys the immune system, leads to brain damage, hearing loss, and in severe cases, death. It is predominant in children less than five years old and, before the development of a vaccine, had an incidence rate of 20,000 annually. About 20% of these kids develop brain damage or suffer hearing loss. Even when treatment is instituted, it has a fatality rate of 5% in children that develop Hib meningitis. Vaccination offers protection against this fatal disease.

Medical Advice: Children need four doses of Hib vaccine; a dose should be administered at the following ages:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12-23 months

8. MEASLES

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be very severe among children. It is an airborne disease that spreads primarily when air droplets from an infected patient are transmitted to another person. The virus can be active for up to two hours after the infected person has left the room, thereby infecting other persons in the room. Travelers from other parts of the world where measles is endemic may bring the disease into the country. This puts anyone that is not vaccinated against the disease at risk of contracting the disease. It is, therefore, important for your kids to be protected against the disease.

Medical Advice: Children need two doses of MMR vaccine (which also protects against Rubella and mumps), a dose should be administered at these ages:

• 12 – 23 months
• 4 – 6 years

If you are traveling abroad with your kids between the ages of 6-11 months, ensure they have at least a dose of MMR before they embark on the journey, they are to get two more doses after their on or after they clock one, each dose being 28 days apart.

9. WHOOPING COUGH

Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is very contagious like measles and can be fatal, especially in children. Active infection of whooping cough is characterized by a violent, uncontrollable cough that makes breathing difficult. It is qualified by “whooping” because of the sound along the airway due to rushing in after a coughing fit. If babies are affected, it may cause their breathing to cease without any cough episode. Pregnant women need to be vaccinated to confer secondary immunity on the child before they are old enough to be vaccinated. This should be complemented by vaccinating the baby as soon as (s)he could (1-2 months) to get their immunity conferred. The incidence of whooping cough has been between 15,000-50,000 cases in the united states since 2010, cutting across all states.

Medical Advice: Children need five doses of the DTaP vaccine to be immune against this vaccine. One dose should be administered at:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12-23 months
• 4-6 years

10. PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. The symptoms of infection of this disease include sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections, and, in extreme cases, meningitis which can be particularly fatal in children. This is because the otherwise sterile brain and spinal cord become invaded by bacteria leading to severe consequences.

Medical Advice: Children need four doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to be immune against pneumococcal. One dose should be administered at:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 – 23 months

11. ROTAVIRUS

Rotavirus is an infectious disease that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like severe watery diarrhea, which may be accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain, mainly affecting the younger age group. It leads to severe dehydration if children are affected, which may lead to death if left untreated among children. Rotavirus is the main cause of death due to diarrhea among children. Children can be vaccinated against this virus quite early, thereby conferring protection upon them.

Medical Advice: Children need two or three doses of rotavirus vaccine for protection against it. One dose should be administered at:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months (If the vaccine is RotaTeq)

12. MUMPS

Mumps is a viral infection that affects salivary glands, thereby causing puffy cheeks and swollen jaws. It also presents with other symptoms such as head and muscle aches, tiredness, and fever. It is an infectious disease and presently has no cure. It still affects several people in the United States annually, thereby posing a threat. It may lead to an outbreak if there is close contact with someone infected, e.g., a hospital ward or a classroom. However, the good news is getting the MMR vaccine confers protection against mump, measles, and Rubella.

Medical Advice: Two doses of MMR are needed to confer protection. One dose should be administered at:

• 12 – 23 months
• 4 – 6 years

13. CHICKENPOX

Chickenpox infection is characterized by fever and an itchy rash of blisters. It leads to hundreds of blisters scattered over the body surface. It is particularly severe and even life-threatening among people with low immune systems – children, elders, and immunocompromised adults.

Medical Advice: Children need two doses of chickenpox vaccine for them to be protected against the infection. One dose should be administered at:

• 12 – 23 months
• 4 – 6 years

14. DIPHTHERIA

Today, diphtheria is regarded by many as an “ancient” disease, a pointer to the success of the vaccine. This vaccine is DTaP, a combination vaccine that offers protection against tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and diphtheria. However, it should be noted that diphtheria still exists, but it can be prevented through vaccination. Its symptoms include difficulty in breathing and swallowing, paralysis, heart failure, and in extreme conditions, death. Get your kids vaccinated and protect them against diphtheria.

Medical Advice: Children need five doses of the DTaP vaccine to be immune against this vaccine. One dose should be administered at:

• 1-2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12-23 months
• 4-6 years