Questions to Ask Your Child’s Pediatrician About Vaccines

When it comes to vaccinating your child, asking the right questions is key.

Vaccines play a critical role in protecting your child’s health. By age 2, if your child gets their recommended shots, they’ll be protected against more than a dozen different diseases. And if they get an annual flu shot, they’ll be covered when flu season hits.

If you’re looking for more information about vaccinating your child, asking these questions will help you make an informed decision.

What vaccinations does my child need?

“From birth through age 18, your child will receive vaccines to protect them against a number of illnesses,” says Nicole Samies, DO, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Geisinger.

Your child’s pediatrician can provide the full list of vaccines they’ll need. They can also explain each vaccine in detail to help you better understand what they’re for.

Why do they need them?

Vaccines protect your child against illness, like measles and whooping cough. Vaccinations also help protect your child from complications major illnesses might cause. These can range from high fevers to seizures or permanent damage if left untreated.

Babies and young children don’t have strong immune systems. Regular vaccinations help boost immunity, defending them from future illness. Vaccines also help:

Guard your child’s long-term health
Deliver protection at the right time, when they’re most vulnerable to certain illnesses
Provide herd immunity to stop the spread of illness and protect those who can’t be vaccinated

What is the vaccine schedule?

Starting from birth, vaccines happen at regular intervals. “They’re generally given at birth around 2 months, 4 months and 6 months and then not again until 12 months,” Dr. Samies says. Each typically requires multiple doses. For the first year of life, your child will receive several vaccines at once to protect them when they’re most at risk.

Are there other vaccination schedules available?

If you’re concerned about the pace of your child’s vaccines, you do have options.

Depending on your pediatrician, you may be able to ask for an alternative vaccine schedule.

“An alternative vaccine schedule spreads out vaccines longer and gives fewer doses at once,” says Dr. Samies. That means your child may only get 1 shot at a time, instead of 2 or 3.

Dr. Samies notes that a delayed vaccine schedule may put your child at a greater risk of developing major illnesses like meningitis or pneumonia.

You and your child’s pediatrician can discuss a vaccination schedule that works best for everyone.

What side effects can I expect?

Most vaccines only cause mild side effects that last 24 to 48 hours. Side effects you may see include:

Swelling, pain or redness at the injection site
Low-grade fever

A little knowledge goes a long way

Your pediatrician is there to help your child feel their best as they grow. By keeping the lines of conversation open, you can address concerns as they come up. And addressing those concerns can give you peace of mind at every age and stage.