Vaccines and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Making Educated Decisions About Immunizations
Aug 11, 2008
Some vaccine-preventable diseases are more serious than others and some are more or less serious depending on a child's age. The potential seriousness of a disease may influence a parent's choice to vaccinate against the disease or to avoid the risks associated with the vaccine.
Vaccine ingredients vary by brand. Parents can choose among brands to avoid controversial ingredients, such as mercury and aluminum, and also between combined vaccines and individual vaccines. Giving fewer vaccines over a longer period of time may reduce the risks or severity of adverse reactions and vaccine injuries.
Know the Diseases: The 16 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Common and Can be Serious
Pneumococcus is a bacteria which causes meningitis, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. It can be fatal in infants and elderly.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a bacteria which causes severe coughing. It can be fatal in young infants.
Rotavirus is a virus which causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. It can be fatal in infants.
Influenza is a virus which causes fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and vomitting. It can be fatal in infants and elderly.
Common but Not Often Serious
Chickenpox is a virus which causes fever and rash.
Hepatitis A is a virus which causes severe intestinal symptoms and mild liver damage in adults. It is very mild in young children.
Rare but Can be Serious
Tetanus is a bacteria which causes weakness and paralysis. It affects mainly adults with poor deep wound hygiene. It can be fatal.
Diphtheria is a bacteria that causes severe throat and upper lung infection. It can be fatal.
Haemophilus influenza type B is a bacteria which causes meningitis and bloodstream infections. It can be fatal in infants and elderly.
Meningococcus is a bacteria that causes severe bloodstream infections and meningitis. It can be fatal.
Polio is a virus which causes muscle weakness and paralysis. It can be fatal.
Measles is a virus which causes fever and rash. It can damage internal organs.
Mumps is a virus which causes fever and rash. It can damage internal organs.
Rubella is a virus which causes fever and rash. It can cause birth defects when pregnant mothers are exposed.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Very Rare in Children
Hepatitis B is a virus which causes severe liver damage and can be fatal. It is a blood-borne sexually transmitted disease common in adults.
Human papillomavirus is a virus which causes genital warts and may cause cervical cancer. It is a sexually transmitted disease common in adults.
Know the Vaccines: The 12 Childhood Vaccines
While certain vaccines are routinely given in combination, such as the DTaP and MMR vaccines listed below, individual vaccines may be available. Vaccines that contain partial germs or whole, killed germs cannot cause the disease. Only live-virus and live, weakened-virus vaccines can cause the disease and are designed to create a low-grade infection to produce immunity.
Partial-Germ Vaccines
The hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine is available in two brands: Recombivax HB by Merck and Engerix B by GlaxoSmithKline.
The diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) vaccine is available in three brands: Infanrix by GlaxoSmithKline, Tripedia by Sanofi-Pasteur, and Daptacel by Sanofi-Pasteur. These vaccines are also available in plain tetanus and diphtheria/pertussis varieties.
The haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is available in two brands: ActHib by Sanofi-Pasteur and PedVaxHib by Merck.
The pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine is available in only one brand: Prevnar by Wyeth.
The meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine is available in only one brand: Menactra by Sanofi-Pasteur.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is available in two brands: Gardasil by Merck and Cervarix by GlaxoSmithKline.
Whole, Killed-Germ Vaccines
The inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccine is available in only one brand: IPOL by Sanofi-Pasteur.
The influenza vaccine is available in several brands: Fluzone, Fluvirin, FluLaval, and Fluarix.
The hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine is available in two brands: Vaqta by Merck and Havrix by GlaxoSmithKline.
Live-Virus Vaccines
Rotavirus (Rota) vaccine is available in two brands: Rotateq by Merck and Rotarix by GlaxoSmithKline (FDA approval is still pending).
The influenza vaccine Flumist (live nasal spray) contains live virus.
Live, Weakened-Virus Vaccines
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is available in only one brand: MMR II by Merck. Separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are also available from Merck.
Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine is available in only one brand: Varivax by Merck.
Immunization Schedules
The standard childhood immunization schedule for the United States can be found at cdc.gov/vaccines; for the UK at immunisation.nhs.uk; for Canada at phac-aspc.gc.ca; and for the World Health Organization at who.int/vaccines.
Alternative vaccination schedules incorporate selective and delayed vaccination to reduce the risks of adverse reactions and vaccine injury. Giving fewer shots over a longer period of time gives children's immune systems a better chance to cope with toxic chemicals and live viruses. Parents who understand vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases can make informed decisions regarding their children's vaccination schedules.
