Immunizations

If you need a copy of your child's VACCINE RECORDS, there is no charge; however, our office does charge $10 for copies of medical records, and $30 for copies of medical records if they are stored off-site (if your child has not been to our office for a long period of time).

Our policy regarding recommended school vaccines is as follows: Vaccines are to be given to all children. If you as a parent choose not to vaccinate your children, Mid-Ohio Pediatrics and Adolescents, Inc. will not treat your children. We will end our patient physician relationship. We strongly believe in immunizations.

Further information about these vaccines can be found at The Centers for Disease Control web site. Their lists are always current and contain the latest information about the immunizations, including ones needed for travel. See chart of the CDC's recommended immunization schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: Although there are some possible risks to vaccines, the risks are far smaller than the effects of the diseases they prevent. Certain individuals need special considerations with respect to vaccines, and they include persons who is less able to fight serious infections because of: a disease he/she was born with; treatment with drugs such as long-term steroids; any kind of cancer; cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs; AIDS or HIV infection.

Following is a list of immunizations we recommend, with a brief description of each. For more details, visit The Centers for Disease Control's web site.

VACCINE

DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

DTaP

Protects your child against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis, diseases whose effects can be very serious.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
	~ fever, irritability lasting up to two days
	~ soreness and swelling at the site of the shot.
LESS COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
	~ constant, inconsolable crying for longer than 3 hours
	~ unusual, high-pitched crying
	~ excessive sleepiness or difficulty waking the child
	~ limpness or paleness
	~ temperature of 105º or higher
	~ convulsion

MMR

Protects against measles, mumps and rubella (German Measles), which are serious diseases. The vaccine is given twice: between 12-15 months of age and 4-6 years of age or before middle school.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

Redness or soreness at the injection site

1-2 weeks after the FIRST dose, there may be:

	~ rash (5-15- out of every 100 doses)
	~ fever of 103º or higher (5-15 of every 100 doses)
	~ swelling of the glands in the cheeks, neck or under the jaw
	~ a seizure (jerking and staring spell) usually caused by fever. THIS IS RARE.

1-3 weeks after the FIRST dose, there may be

	~ pain, stiffness or swelling in one or more joints lasting up to 3 days (1 in every 100 doses).
	~ Rarely, pain or stiffness lasts a month or longer or may come and go, but this is more common in young women.

SEVERE PROBLEMS: These problems happen VERY RARELY:

	~ serious allergic reaction
	~ low number of platelets (a type of blood cell) that can lead to bleeding problems. This is almost always temporary.
	~ long seizures, decreased consciousness, or coma

Problems following MMR are much less common after the SECOND dose.

WHAT TO DO IS THERE IS A SERIOUS REACTION:

Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Write down what happened and the date and time it happened. Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call 800-822-7967.

POLIO

Protects against polio, a serious disease that can paralyze a person or cause death. IPV , or Inactivated Polio Vaccine, is given as a shot in the leg or arm.

RISKS FROM IPV

~ This vaccine is not known to cause problems except mild soreness where the shot is given.

WHAT TO DO IS THERE IS A SERIOUS REACTION:

Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Write down what happened and the date and time it happened.
Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call 800-822-7967.

PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a serious disease, with all children under the age of two at the highest risk of getting the disease. It is classified as meningitis or bacteremia. This new vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing IPD by the strains within the vaccine and 90% effective against all strains of Strep pneumo. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children under the age of two should get the vaccine.

HOW MANY DOSES?

	~ Infants: 2, 4, 6 months with a booster at 12-15 months
	~ Children 7-11 months of age: 3 shots
	~ Children 12-23 months: 2 shots
	~ Children 24-59 months: 1 shot

POSSIBLE RISKS The risk of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine causing serous harm or death is extremely small. Getting the vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.

	~ Mild fever
	~ Slight redness, swelling, tenderness at injection site
	~ Drowsiness, irritability, restless sleep or decreased appetite (7% or less in all instances)

WHAT TO DO IS THERE IS A SERIOUS REACTION: (VERY RARE).

Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Write down what happened and the date and time it happened.
Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call 800-822-7967.

HIB

HIB is relatively new, having been released in 1985. HIB is short for Hemophilus Influenzae type B, a bacterium responsible for serious diseases in infants, toddlers and preschooler, especially those in any type of child care situation. The vaccine is safe, free of significant reactions and necessary for the child under 5 years of age.

CHICKENPOX

This vaccine has been recommended to be given to children who have not had chickenpox. For children between 1 year and 12 years of age, it is a one-time vaccination. For children 13 years or older, the vaccine is given twice: once initially and then again in 4-8 weeks.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Few side effects.

	~ 15% of children will develop fever of 102º.
	~ 20% develop soreness or swelling at the injection site
	~ About 3% develop a chickenpox-type rash.

BE ALERTED

Some persons should not receive the chickenpox vaccine, including those who are allergic to gelatin, neomycin, have a fever along with a respiratory illness or who are pregnant or whose immune system is compromised. If the child's mother is pregnant and has never had chickenpox, the vaccination MUST WAIT until after delivery.

HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver and is caused by the Hepatitis B virus. It is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. Hepatitis B virus is found in the blood, saliva, tears, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk of an infected person. It may be spread from an infected person to another person in the following ways:

	~ sexual contact
	~ mother to baby, during the birth process
	~ contact with contaminated blood and open wounds
	~ use of unsterilized needles in practices such as acupuncture, tattooing, ear-piercing and illegal drug use.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is a series of 3 injections.

MENINGOCOCCAL

Meningitis is a serious disease caused by bacteria, and it results in infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings. It can also cause blood infections. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but it is most common in infants less than one year of age and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshmen, particularly those living in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting meningitis. This vaccine can prevent 2 of the 3 types of meningococcal disease in older children and adults. About 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. 10-15% of these people die, in spite of antibiotic treatment. Of those who live, another 10% lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures or strokes.

HOW MANY DOSES?

	~ For people 2 years of age and older, 1 dose.
	~ For children 3 months to 2 years of age, 2 doses, 3 months apart.

POSSIBLE RISKS: The risk of the meningococcal vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.

	~ Some people who receive the vaccine experience redness or pain where the shot was given; the symptoms last for 1-2 days.
	~ A small percentage of people develop a fever.

SERIOUS REACTIONS: If a serious allergic reaction occurred, it would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include: difficulty breathing, weakness, hoarseness or wheezing, fast heart beat, hives, dizziness, paleness, or swelling of the throat.

WHAT TO DO IS THERE IS A SERIOUS REACTION:

Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Write down what happened and the date and time it happened.
Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call 800-822-7967.