Immunizations are a critical component of personal and public health and should not be overlooked. The team at Manchester Pediatrics Associates offers comprehensive immunization services to keep your family healthy and strong at their offices in South Windsor, and Tolland, Connecticut. To learn more about the immunizations your child needs, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.

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What is the purpose of immunizations?

Immunizations, or vaccines, can be thought of as training exercises to build your child’s immunity to a wide range of dangerous diseases. Immunization is the process of developing a strong defense against disease.

The best way to understand the importance of immunization is to think about how the human immune system works. When a child is exposed to a foreign substance, it launches a swift response. Antibodies are produced to fight off infection.

Once those antibodies are present, they remain in your child’s body for the rest of their life, standing by to spring into action if that particular antigen is ever encountered again. This process occurs without any medical intervention, but some diseases are so aggressive they can weaken or be fatal for children before their body has a chance to develop immunity.

That’s where vaccines come in. These injections introduce a dead or weakened strain of specific antigens, giving your child the opportunity to develop a natural resistance without developing the actual disease.

What childhood immunizations are necessary?

Some of the vaccines your child should receive prior to the age of six includes:

  • Chickenpox
  • Diphtheria
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Influenza
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  • Polio
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus
  • Rubella
  • Tetanus

Some of these vaccinations are now combined in one injection. Many require more than one injection spaced out over time to build up proper immunity.

Is it safe for my child to get immunizations and vaccines?

There is a great deal of misinformation about immunizations and vaccines, causing many parents to be needlessly worried about the safety of these important immunization tools. A vast body of medical research supports the fact that getting immunizations are not only safe but also incredibly effective.

In fact, vaccines have effectively eradicated numerous infectious diseases from the American landscape. In areas of the world where vaccines are not readily available, these diseases continue to claim countless lives.

If you have concerns about the safety of vaccines, feel free to sit down with the team at Manchester Pediatric Associates to learn more. The team is committed to supporting your child’s health and wellness, and immunization is a critical part of reaching that goal. Request an appointment online or by phone today.