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ave you ever wondered how your children’s health care provider knows


which immunizations your kids need and when to administer them? The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Pe- diatrics (AAP) are groups of public health and medical experts who critically review immunization research and develop recommendations for our immunization schedule in the United States. A few updates were added to the 2015


immunization schedule. Revisions to this year’s schedule provide further clarifi ca- tion on the immunization recommenda- tions for infl uenza; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); and meningococcal. You can view a summary of the newly updated immunization schedule at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ hcp/child-adolescent.html#chgs.


Influenza You know the infl uenza virus can make your child feel terrible. The infection is notorious for causing headaches, fever, chills and a cough that seems to drag on for weeks. However, the infl uenza virus can also cause serious secondary infec- tions, such as pneumonia. Children with asthma or weakened immune systems seem to be especially susceptible to in- fl uenza infections and are at the highest risk for developing complications. It is important to immunize your kids against infl uenza so they are protected against the potentially devastating disease. Immunizing also prevents the spread to other children with asthma or weakened immune systems, as well as those with whom they come into contact. The live attenuated infl uenza vaccine (LAIV) is in the form of a nasal spray,


Ready, Set, Grow


administered with a single spray in each nostril. Children are eligible to receive it starting at age two unless they: (1) have had a previous severe allergic reaction to LAIV or any other infl uenza vaccine, (2) are taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products, (3) have an allergy to eggs, (4) have a weakened immune system, (5) have had asthma at two through four years of age or have had wheezing in the past 12 months or (6) have had ingestion of infl uenza antiviral medications in the last 48 hours.


MMR The MMR immunization provides immu- nity against measles, mumps and rubella. These three diseases are extremely con- tagious and can cause life-altering side effects such as loss of sight and hearing. Because most infants in the U.S. are born with antibodies from their mothers, the MMR is not recommended until 12 months of age because the immune response from the immunization is suboptimal for infants who already have some protection from their mothers. Traveling abroad raises the risk of


exposure to measles, mumps and rubella. While usually recommended for children 12 months of age and older, the MMR vac-


The MMR vaccine is not recommend- ed until 12 months of age, but infants traveling abroad may receive it at 6 months of age prior to travel


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