The CDC has produced a recommended childhood vaccine schedule, and Pennsylvania requires several of those vaccines in order for children to matriculate in school. Some exceptions can be made for medical or religious reasons, but the standard requirement in Pennsylvania for childhood vaccines is:
- Four doses of the DTaP vaccine (protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis)
- Four doses of the polio vaccine
- Two doses of the MMR vaccine (protects against measles, mumps, and rubella)
- Three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine
- Two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or evidence of immunity
- 7th grade – in addition to those above, one dose of Tdap (similar to DTaP but for children ages 7 and older) and one dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
- 12th grade – in addition to those above, a second dose of MCV4
Do your research
It is natural for parents to be concerned about giving their children vaccines, which are basically small doses of dead (or severely weakened) germs. But the purpose of a vaccine is to give the body a harmless piece of the germ so that it will develop antibodies to prevent the person from actually developing the full-blown illness in the future.
Though most of these vaccines have been around for decades and have an extremely low rate of serious side effects, you, as the parent, should become educated on the vaccines, how they work, and their possible side effects, so that you can discuss with your doctor what is best for your child.
Ask your doctor for the Vaccine Information Statements produced by the CDC that list the benefits and risks of each of the vaccines. You can ask for these sheets ahead of the vaccination, even before your baby is born, so that you have time to research the information further. You can also review information on the VAERS database, which lists adverse events reported by parents or doctors after a person has been vaccinated. Keep in mind that while the adverse events occurred shortly after the administration of the shots, they may or may not be associated with the vaccine. Either way, reports of side effects are important as they are the first step in allowing the CDC to examine safety concerns and improve vaccines as needed.
Once you have done your research, discuss your concerns (if any) with your pediatrician. This can even take place before your baby is born. Your doctor will share with you his or her expert opinion and years of experience with vaccinations and help you come to the right decision for your child.
Since many of the vaccines required by Pennsylvania have been studied for a long time, you can be confident that, if your child is healthy without a compromised immune system, the vaccines will be easily tolerated without significant side effects.
Since some vaccines are administered to the baby shortly after birth, such as the hepatitis B vaccine, if you wish to delay or forego such shots, make your decisions known to your doctor and take a written document to the hospital. Remind the hospital staff after the baby is born of your decision.
Experts are confident in the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. We encourage you to do your own research using credible information from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Then, have a discussion with your pediatrician to address your concerns.
