Since the COVID-19 vaccine started rolling out in late 2020, citizens have been urging to get their hands on the vaccine. And, with over 40% of citizens in the United States vaccinated, things seem like they’re finally starting to return to a state of normalcy.
Although, many experts argue that the old normal will never happen again. The realities of illness and infection set in for many people.
Thus, the worry about vaccinations has grown. The vaccine schedule for adults and children has come into question. And, it’s about more than just the COVID-19 vaccine.
That’s why we’re here to talk about it.
To learn more about the child and adult vaccine schedules, keep reading. It could be information that you need to prevent a future pandemic.
Birth to Six Years: Vaccine Schedule
The CDC provides a clear vaccine schedule for children from birth to age six.
When your baby is born, he/she is going to receive a Hepatitis B vaccine. This is a preventable disease that infects the liver of the infected individual. It transfers via bodily fluids, like blood.
Later, your child will receive the second hepatitis B vaccine between one and two months. Then, he/she will receive the third dose between six and eighteen months.
Two Months
At two months, your child will receive multiple vaccines against the following illnesses:
- Rotavirus – a contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and similar symptoms
- Diphtheria – a bacterial infection that causes the build-up of poisons in the body, can cause problems with breathing, heart failure, paralysis, and death
- Tetanus – a bacterial infection that produces toxins in the body to form muscle contractions, can cause lockjaw, problems swallowing, and death
- Acellular pertussis – “whooping cough,” a respiratory disease that causes a violent cough that makes it hard to breathe
- Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) – a bacterial infection that can cause severe infection throughout the body
- Pneumonia – an infection of the air sacs in the lungs
- Meningitis – the inflammation of the fluid and membranes around your brain and spinal cord
- Sepsis – an infection in the bloodstream
- Polio – A virus that causes nerve injuries
At four months, you’ll receive the second shot for all of these diseases. At six months, you’ll receive the third shot for all but polio. Instead, you’ll receive that booster shot between six months and eighteen months.
And, starting at six months, children should start receiving the influenza vaccine yearly.
Twelve Months
Between twelve and fifteen months, children receive a fourth shot against Haemophilus influenza type B. They will also receive the fourth shot in pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis series.
During this same period of time, your child may receive the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella as well as the varicella vaccine.
Also, between twelve and twenty-three months, your child should receive a vaccine for hepatitis A.
Measles is a virus that causes fever, cough, runny nose, and inflamed lymph nodes. Mumps is a virus that may cause the swelling of the parotid glands as well as fever and muscle pain. Rubella is a viral infection that causes a red rash inflamed lymph nodes.
Varicella (“chickenpox”) is a virus that causes blisters across the skin. And, finally, Hepatitis A is a liver disease that spreads through stool. Therefore, people who come into contact with contaminated water could become infected.
It’s important that we make it clear that all of these vaccines prevent serious illnesses. Illness and death are preventable with a vaccine regimen.
School-Aged Children
In children entering school (ages four to six), there may be a few more required vaccines. The CDC recommends administering the following vaccines in children these ages:
- Vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
- Vaccine against polio
- The Vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella
- Vaccine against varicella
You may want to ask if your child’s school has any more vaccine requirements or recommendations.
Keep in mind that your child should be receiving the influenza vaccine every single year, too.
Seven Years to Eighteen Years: Vaccine Schedule
The CDC provides a clear vaccine schedule for older children.
First, the CDC makes it clear that every person six months of age and older should receive an influenza vaccine every year.
Children ages eleven through twelve should receive the DTaP vaccine. This is the vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Getting a repeat shot helps the body build strong immunity against these viruses
Along with that vaccine, children these ages should receive the HPV (Human papillomavirus) vaccine. HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus that is relatively harmless. But, it can cause genital warts and even cancer.
In addition, they should receive one shot of the meningococcal conjugate. This prevents meningitis.
A second shot of the meningococcal conjugate may be given to children who are at a higher risk for contracting meningitis.
Adults 19 Years of Age and Older: Vaccine Schedule
Just like the other age groups, the CDC provides a chart for the adult vaccine schedule as well.
All adults should receive the influenza vaccine each year. Adults should also receive the TDaP booster shot about every ten years. However, adults who become pregnant should receive the vaccine once for each pregnancy.
Adults aged 50 or older should receive a vaccine against shingles, known as the Zoster recombinant.
The CDC makes additional recommendations for at-risk patients. If you’re worried about the vaccines that you’re due for, you should consult your regular physician. He/She can help you explore the kinds of vaccines that you may need.
The COVID-19 Vaccine
Because of the recent COVID-19 vaccine, it’s important to highlight this subject separately. With all of the controversy surrounding the recent vaccine, we’re going to highlight the facts.
First, there are three different brands of the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen
The CDC has approved the Pfizer vaccine for people who are twelve years of age and older. This is a two-shot series, with the second shot administered three weeks (21 days) after the first one. You’re considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot.
The CDC has approved the Moderna vaccine for people who are eighteen years of age and older. This is two-shot series, with the second shot administered four weeks (28 days) after the first one. You’re considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot.
The CDC has approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people who are eighteen years of age and older. This vaccination requires one shot. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after this single shot.
All of these vaccines are safe for use in pregnant individuals. In fact, some studies have shown that the fetus carries some of the antibodies formed after vaccine administration.
Each one of these vaccines is an mRNA vaccine. This means that it teaches your body how to fight against the virus without actually giving you the virus. Instead, your body receives code to make the proteins like the coronavirus has.
Because the immune system is still learning to fight the protein, many people do experience symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal. But, if you’re concerned, you should call your primary physician to let them know about your symptoms.
With these vaccines in mind, leaders like Suzanne Clark are preparing for the post-pandemic world.
Will I Need to Get Vaccinated Every Year?
Because people have compared COVID-19 to the flu, many people are wondering if there may be an annual vaccine for COVID-19. Earlier, we mentioned the annual influenza vaccination.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest either scenario. The CDC has been conducting research to see how long the human immune system can remember the protein instructions that we mentioned earlier. This amount of time will determine how often you need the COVID-19 vaccination.
As of now, individuals who received the first few shots are still showing signs of immunity. Therefore, there have not been plans to start an annual vaccination schedule.
Is the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Safe?
Many people are concerned about the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following circumstantial evidence of blood clots in some people who received the vaccine. However, the CDC conducted a safety study and found that the risk is not presently high enough to stop the use of the vaccine altogether.
Effective April 23, 2021, the CDC announced that Johnson & Johnson should continue the administration of the vaccine.
However, if you’re worried about potential blood clots, we recommend seeking one of the other vaccine types.
Looking Ahead
With the COVID-19 vaccine pressing forward, it’s important to look ahead past the pandemic. Many of us are scared or unsure of what the future will look like. Now that we’re hyperaware of germs, shaking hands and meeting strangers seems a little bit more dangerous.
But, as long as you’ve gotten the vaccine, the CDC has approved the continuation of normal activities. It’s time to get back to normal.
Of course, you should keep washing your hands. And, you should stay home if you’re not feeling well.
To learn more about health-related topics like these, check out the rest of our blog.
