Return to Articles

4.01.2025

Everything You Need to Know About Childhood Vaccines but Were Afraid to Ask

By Kate Pflughoeft, PhD; Nevada Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and Development, Preschool Development Grant Birth-5.

How often do your little ones get sick? It probably feels like it happens all the time because as your child is growing so is their immune system. Children need time, good nutrition, and select vaccines for their immune system to handle disease-causing microbes or germs (bacteria, viruses, and other small organisms). 

Vaccines are a safe and effective way to enable your child to produce powerful antibodies that will recognize things that should not be in their body and protect them from disease-causing microbes. 

National Infant Immunization Week is April 21 -28, 2025 and is a time that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminds us of “the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases.” 

When it comes to vaccines some families are all in, trusting the advice of healthcare professionals, while others can be a bit apprehensive, and that is ok. We all want what is best for our children, and if you are not sure about the recommended vaccine schedule or any particular vaccine, asking your doctor or other healthcare provider is a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest information and make an informed decision for your child. 

Vaccines Are Like Fire Drills for the Immune System

Imagine your child's immune system is like a school full of students. A vaccine is like a fire drill—it helps the immune system prepare for a real emergency without actually putting anyone in danger. 

When a school holds a fire drill, students learn what to do if there's ever a real fire. They practice getting to safety quickly and staying calm. That way, if a real fire happens, they won’t panic—they’ll know exactly what to do. Vaccines work the same way. 

They introduce a tiny, harmless piece of a germ (like a fire drill) so the immune system can practice fighting it off. If your child ever encounters the real germ, their immune system will remember what to do and act fast to keep them safe.

Just like regular fire drills help protect students, vaccines help protect your child from dangerous diseases. And when everyone participates, the whole community stays safer—just like a well-prepared school!

Let’s take a minute to explore the vaccine recommendations. Below is the vaccination schedule endorsed by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatricians. As noted at the bottom of the table, if your child has complex medical needs their schedule may be different. 

Now that you have an easy-to-read vaccine schedule, let’s talk about some of the vaccines and the diseases that they combat. 

Vaccines introduce a non-disease-causing material (often a protein) into the body that trains the body to remove that protein, using antibodies specific to the protein.  Now here is the important part - the protein or other material used in a vaccine is so similar to what the body sees on disease-causing microbes (germs) that the antibodies that recognize the vaccine also bind to and remove the microbe.  

Vaccines protect the body from disease-causing microbes without having to get sick first. Note that some antibodies can be transferred from mother to child before the child is born or in breast milk, so ensuring that expecting and young mothers are appropriately vaccinated is also important.

Overview of childhood vaccinations and symptoms of associated infections:

Hepatitis B: The first vaccine that you will be asked to give your child will be before you leave the hospital, the Hepatitis B Vaccine. The timing of this is what makes it difficult to understand. Hepatitis means that it is an infection that affects the liver, with Hepatitis B caused by a virus. While you may not know anyone who has Hepatitis B, 90% of infants infected have the disease for life. Infection with the Hepatitis B virus has been found to cause cancer. Infection is spread through infected body fluids.

Rotavirus: A highly contagious viral infection of the digestive tract resulting in cramps, vomiting and diarrhea resulting in dehydration. This is one cause of the “stomach flu.” Infection is spread through hands and food contaminated with feces. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 2-month check-up.

DTaP: This vaccine is protective against three bacterial infections. Pertussis or Whooping Cough is a respiratory infection that results in a cough so severe that children struggle to breathe, making a loud whooping sound as they try to get air into their lungs. Tetanus is caused when bacteria enter a cut or other skin wound that results in an infection of the brain or nervous system, with symptoms including difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, and painfully stiff muscles. Diphtheria is an infection of the respiratory tract that causes a blocked airway, coughing and rapid breathing. Infection is spread by breathing in contaminated air (Pertussis and Diphtheria) or by touching contaminated surfaces (Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus). The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 2-month check-up.

Hib: Protective against a bacterial infection of the lungs (coughing, soreness in the chest, Pneumonia), ear infections, or meningitis (headache, stiff neck, and confusion). Infection is spread through the air or by touching contaminated surfaces. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 2-month check-up.

Pneumococcal (or PCV): Protective against a bacterial infection of the sinus, lungs, and ears. Severe infections can result in meningitis (headache, stiff neck, and confusion) or bloodstream infections. Spread through touching with respiratory fluids (saliva or mucus). The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 2-month check-up.

Polio: A viral infection of the nervous system largely thought to be eliminated from the United States due to vaccination efforts. Symptoms can include hearing loss and paralysis. Spread through the air, touching contaminated surfaces, and contaminated hands, food, and water. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 2-month check-up.

MMR: A series of vaccines that are protective against viral infections causing the following: Measles (rash and respiratory symptoms), Mumps (respiratory symptoms and swollen glands of the head and neck), and Rubella (rash and swollen lymph nodes). All three viruses are spread through the air or by touching contaminated surfaces. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 12-month check-up.

Chicken Pox or Varicella: A life-long viral infection that causes an itchy rash and headache. Infection can reoccur in the elderly (this is what causes shingles). Spread through the air or by touching contaminated surfaces. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 12-month check-up.

Hepatitis A: A viral infection (different from Hepatitis B) of the liver resulting in yellowing of the skin and eyes, tiredness, and vomiting. Transmitted through contamination of food or water or close contact with an infected person. The vaccine is first given as part of a combination of vaccines at the 12-month check-up

Vaccines are not fun for either a child or their parents but following the vaccination guidelines can protect your child from much more scary and dangerous infections. 

When your child is sick you would do anything to help make them better. While vaccines cannot help after an infection, they can and do dramatically reduce the frequency and severity of infections. 

Talk with your child’s doctor for more information or to answer any questions that you may have.