What Are Childhood Immunizations?
Childhood immunizations are a series of inoculations, or “shots,” that protect children from dangerous infectious diseases. These shots work by priming the body’s natural defenses to respond quickly and effectively to a particular disease-causing germa virus or bacterium. Current recommendations call for all U.S. children to be immunized against 11 diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), chickenpox (varicella), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) disease, and pneumococcal disease. Children in some western states should also be immunized against hepatitis A. What Are the Benefits of Childhood Immunizations? Immunizations have had a greater impact on reducing death and disability from infectious diseases than almost any other public health intervention. The rates of diphtheria, measles, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, and invasive Hib disease have all been reduced by 97% or more by immunization. W
