KidTOPICS: Immunization and Test Schedule
The development and administration of
effective immunizations represents the biggest medical advance of the past century.
Pediatricians have played a key role in these advances. Immunizations are VERY IMPORTANT
and parents must make every effort to comply with the recommendations of their
pediatrician in ensuring their children receive their shots on time. The AAP/ACIP have
developed guidelines for effective scheduling of immunizations, which most pediatricians
follow. Please review this schedule with your own pediatrician.
Vaccine Information Statements (published by the CDC)
Every parent that has their child
immunized at any public or private facility MUST read the Center for Disease Control
publication called a "Vaccine Information Statement" or VIS. Each type of
immunization has its own VIS. You may review each of them here (they are Adobe Acrobat
.pdf files and require Acrobat Reader to view; they may take a few seconds to download):
X - due at this time.
+ -if no history of chicken pox,
immunization recommended at 12 months or above; this is a one time shot if under 12 years
of age. Children and adults 12 or above require two shots, one month apart.
F - this is an "iron" test, recommended at
age 14 in Females only (because of menstrual blood loss).
H - recommended in High-risk children.
This schedule adheres to the CURRENT recommendations
of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Please understand that there are
numerous options to the above schedule strategy. This is the one of many variations that
the AAP/ACIP recommends. Discuss your child's schedule with your own pediatrician, as
there are numerous acceptable schedules.
Steven J. Halm, DO, FAAP
Founder, President YourPediatrician.com, Inc
