NICE Children Hospital

Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from disease.

• Vaccines contain a small, harmless piece of the virus or bacteria that causes the disease.
• This piece is called an antigen. When a vaccine is given, the immune system recognizes the antigen as foreign and develops immunity to it.
• This process helps to protect the individual from future infection or disease caused by the actual virus or bacteria.

The recommended vaccination schedule varies depending on the country and the vaccine. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a schedule of vaccinations for infants, children, teens, and adults.

For infants, the recommended vaccines include:

• Hepatitis B (HepB) at birth
• Rotavirus (RV) at 2 and 4 months
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) at 2, 4, and 6 months
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) at 2, 4, and 6 months
• Pneumococcal (PCV) at 2, 4, and 6 months
• Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) at 2 and 4 months and a booster at 4-6 years
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) at 12-15 months
• Varicella (chickenpox) at 12-15 months

For children, the recommended vaccines include:

• Flu (annually) starting at 6 months
• HPV at 11 or 12 years
• Meningococcal at 11 or 12 years
• Booster doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR, and chickenpox between ages 4 and 6

For teens and adults, the recommended vaccines include:

• Flu (annually)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) every 10 years
• HPV for both males and females
• Meningococcal for certain high-risk individuals
• Shingles for adults 60 years and older

It's worth noting that these are general recommendations and the specific schedule for an individual may vary depending on their health status, medical history, and other factors. It's always best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.

The specific vaccines that you should get will depend on your age, health status, occupation, travel plans, and other factors. It is best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.

• However, generally speaking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults should get the flu vaccine every year, as well as the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine every 10 years.
• Other vaccines that may be recommended for adults include the HPV vaccine, the shingles vaccine, and the pneumonia vaccine.
• Additionally, if you are planning to travel internationally, you may need additional vaccinations depending on the destination country and your itinerary.
• For example, if you are traveling to a country where yellow fever is present, you may need to get the yellow fever vaccine.

Again, it's always best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations. They can also inform you about any potential side effects and allergies you may have before administering any vaccine.