Parents want to protect their children against harm and sickness. Learn what are vaccines and how they work. Find out how to get vaccines for your children, which vaccines your children should get, and other information about children’s health.
What are vaccines for children?
A vaccine is a substance that prevents someone from catching a disease. Vaccines (also called immunization) help people avoid diseases before they need treatment. They develop immunity to the disease. As a result, vaccines for children mean that children are very unlikely to catch the disease after they have been vaccinated.
How do I get vaccines for my children?
Children in the USA regularly receive vaccines to help keep them healthy. Doctors and health professionals develop a specific schedule that they follow when vaccinating children. It is important that your children receive their vaccines on time because it helps them stay healthy and disease-free.
You children will get their vaccines at the pediatrician’s office. A pediatrician is a doctor for children. If your child does not have a doctor, you can also contact your local health department or visit the Vaccines for Children program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Which vaccines should my children get?
You can find out which vaccines are recommended by doctors at what age. Many vaccines should be given early in a child’s life. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Children’s health
There are two good websites for finding out more about your children’s health and healthcare in the USA.
Kids Health is a website with information for parents and kids about a variety of kids’ health-related topics. When you get to the website, choose “For Parents.” You will find lots of useful information about vaccines for children and about children’s health. You can learn about normal growth and development in your child, common childhood diseases, and much, much more.
Ethnomed has a number of child health-related resources which have been translated into different languages.
