Immunization Schedule

· 2 Months DTap #1, HIB #1, Polio # 1 , Hepatitis B # 1 Prevnar #1

· 4 Months DTap # 2, HIB # 2, Polio # 2, Prevnar # 2

· 6 Months DTap # 3, HIB # 3, Hepetitis # 3, Prevnar # 3

· 12 Months MMR # 1, Varicella Hepetitis A #1

· 15 Months DTap # 4, HIB # 4, Prevnar # 4

· 18 Months Hepatitis A #2

· 4 – 6 years Dtap # 5, Polio # 3, MMR # 2

· 11–16 years Td booster and every 10 years

Tetanus – Diphtheria (Td)

Tetanus is caused by a germ that enters the body through a cut or wound.

Diphtheria spreads when germs pass from an infected person to the nose or throat of others. (CDC)

People who have not gotten at least 3 doses of any tetanus & diphtheria vaccine during their lifetime, should do so using Td. After a person gets the third dose, a Td dose is needed every 10 years through life. (CDC)

West Nile Virus

This virus is transmitted to a human by a mosquito that has first bitten an infected bird. A person who is bitten by an infected mosquito may show symptoms from 3 – 15 days after the bite.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Keep standing, stagnant water at a minimum.

Protect Yourself:

· When possible, avoid places and times when mosquitoes bite.

· Use an insect repellant containing DEET (N, N- diethyl – m –toluamide).

· Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin.

· Make sure all windows and doors have screens and that all screens are in good repair.

· Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure. (ISDH)

Influenza

An influenza (flu) pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of flu disease, that occurs when a new type of influenza virus appears, that people have not been exposed to before (or have not been exposed to in a long time). The pandemic virus can cause serious illness because people do not have immunity to the new virus. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza that we see each year. Seasonal influenza is caused by influenza virus types to which people have already been exposed. Its’ impact on society is less severe than a pandemic. Influenza vaccines (flu shots and nasal spray vaccine) are available to help prevent widespread illness from seasonal flu.

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO PANDEMIC INFLUENZA IN THE WORLD. (CDC)

What Can I Do To Prepare?

· Keep informed

· Practice basic hygiene

· Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

· Use facial tissues instead of a handkerchief

· Dispose of the tissues after use

· Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly

· Stay home if you are ill

In the event of a pandemic or illness in your family, you may be asked to remain at home for a period of time. It is important that you have a supply of food, regular prescription medications and any over – the – counter medications you might need to treat colds or the flu, and other supplies that you may want / need. Think of this as what you would need to do if you were snowed in for a few days.

When will an influenza pandemic reach the U.S.?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict when the virus will change so that it easily spreads from person to person, or how long it would take to reach the United States. (ISDH)

Worldwide, health and agriculture officials are tracking the spread of the H5N1 strain in birds, are actively culling birds and are limiting the movement of poultry in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. Health officials are also aggressively monitoring influenza – like illness in Asia to see if the H5N1 virus has changed in a manner that will allow person – to – person spread. (ISDH)

Diseases Caused By Bacteria

· DTap(Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Most children who are vaccinated with DTap will be protected throughout childhood. (CDC)

· Polio (IPV) A disease caused by a virus. It enters the body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). No cases of polio have been reported in the United States for over 20 years. The disease is still common in some parts of the world. It would only take one case of polio from another country to bring the disease back if we were not protected by vaccine.

· Hepatitis B (HBV) A virus that can cause short – term (acute) or long – term (chronic) illness. Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. About 1/3 of people who are infected with Hepatitis B in the United States don’t know how they got it. Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent Hepatitis B.

· HIB (Haemophius Influenza) Haemophilus Influenza type B disease is caused by a bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years of age. Your child can get HIB disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. Before HIB vaccine, HIB disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old in the United States. HIB vaccine can prevent HIB disease.

· Prevnar or PCV-7(Pneumococcal Congugate Vaccine

Infection with Streptococcus pneumonial bacteria can cause serious illness and death. Invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for about 200 deaths each year among children under 5 years old. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States. Pneumococcus bacteria are spread from person to person through close contact. PCV-7 vaccine can help prevent serious pneumococcal disease, such as meningitis and blood infections.

· MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

Measles: Measles virus causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death.

Mumps: Mumps virus causes fever, headache and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries and rarely, death.

Rubella: Rubella virus causes rash, mild fever and arthritis (mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects. MMR vaccine can prevent these diseases.

· Varicella (chickenpox) The chickenpox virus can be spread from person to person through the air or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults. Chickenpox causes a rash, itching, fever and tiredness. It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. About 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the United States. Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who get the chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to have a fever and will recover faster.

· Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool of persons with Hepatitis A. It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing Hepatitis A virus. People with Hepatitis A often have to be hospitalized. Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent Hepatitis A.