**VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES**

**FACT SHEET FOR PARENTS**

In the U.S., vaccines have reduced or eliminated many infectious
diseases that once routinely killed or harmed thousands of infants and
young children each year. However, the viruses and bacteria that cause
vaccine-preventable disease and death still exist and can be passed on
to people who are not immunized. Vaccine-preventable diseases have many
social and economic costs. These diseases result in doctor visits,
hospitalizations, and even death. Sick children miss school and can
cause parents to lose time from work.

**Diphtheria**

This serious disease is caused by bacteria that produce a toxin.
Diphtheria can cause blockage of the airway, making it impossible to
breathe. It can also cause heart problems, paralysis of the muscles
needed for swallowing, and sometimes death.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for diphtheria (which is given in
combination with tetanus and pertussis vaccines) at 2 months, 4 months,
6 months, 15-18 months, 4-6 years, and 11-12 years.*

**Hib Disease**

*Haemophilus influenzae* type b (Hib) bacteria cause meningitis,
infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. Hib can also
cause pneumonia (lung infection) and infection of the blood, joints,
bones, throat, and heart covering. The disease is very serious for
children younger than age 5, especially infants. Before vaccines were
available, about 3%--8% of Hib meningitis cases were fatal and, of those
children who survived, 15%--30% suffered severe nerve damage.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for Hib at 2 months, 4 months, 6
months, and 12-15 months.*

**Hepatitis A**

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. Symptoms include fever,
tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine,
and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Hepatitis A virus is
spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has
been contaminated with the virus from the stool. This type of
transmission is called "fecal-oral." For this reason, the virus is more
easily spread in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions, or
where good personal hygiene is not observed.

*Your child should receive two doses of a vaccine for hepatitis A
between 12 and 23 months.*

**Hepatitis B**

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It spreads
through contact with blood or other body fluids due to sharing of
personal items, such as toothbrushes or eating utensils. Hepatitis B
causes a flu-like illness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
rashes, joint pain, and jaundice. The virus stays in the liver of some
people for the rest of their lives and can result in severe liver
diseases or cancer.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for hepatitis B at birth, 1-2
months, and 6-18 months.*

**Human Papillomavirus (HPV)**

Human papillomavirus is a common virus. HPV is most common in people in
their teens and early 20s. It is the major cause of cervical cancer in
women.

*Your daughter should receive three doses of vaccine for HPV at 11-12
years.*

**Influenza (Flu)**

Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat,
and lungs. It is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter season
and spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Influenza
may lead to hospitalization or even death. Typical symptoms include a
sudden high fever, chills, a dry cough, headache, runny nose, sore
throat, and muscle and joint pain. Extreme fatigue can last from several
days to weeks.

*Your child should receive the influenza vaccine annually after 6 months
of age.*

**Measles**

The measles virus is spread very easily. Just being in the same room
with a person with measles is enough to catch the disease. Symptoms
usually include a rash, fever, cough, and watery eyes. Measles can also
cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or death. Of every 1,000
children who get measles, 1 or 2 will die from the disease.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for measles (which is given in
combination with mumps and rubella vaccines) at 12-15 months and 4-6
years.*

**Meningococcal Disease**

Caused by a type of bacteria, meningococcal disease is a leading cause
of bacterial meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and
spinal cord) in children. Meningococcal disease also causes blood
infections, which can be treated with antibiotics; still, about one of
every ten people who get the disease dies from it. Survivors may lose
their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous
systems, become developmentally disabled, or suffer seizures or strokes.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for meningococcal disease at 11-12
years.*

**Mumps**

The mumps virus causes fever, headaches, and swollen salivary glands
under the jaw. Children who get mumps may develop meningitis (infection
of the covering of the brain and spinal cord) and sometimes encephalitis
(inflammation of the brain). Mumps can also result in permanent hearing
loss.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for mumps (which is given in
combination with measles and rubella vaccines) at 12-15 months and 4-6
years.*

**Pertussis (Whooping Cough)**

Pertussis is caused by bacteria. It can cause spells of violent coughing
and choking, making it hard to breathe, drink, or eat. The cough can
last for weeks. Pertussis is most serious for babies, who can get
pneumonia, have seizures, become brain damaged, or even die. About
two-thirds of children under 1 year of age who get pertussis must be
hospitalized.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for pertussis (which is given in
combination with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines) at 2 months, 4 months,
6 months, 15-18 months, 4-6 years, and 11-12 years.*

**Pneumococcal Disease**

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that invades the lungs,
causing the most common kind of bacterial pneumonia. The bacteriacan
invade both the bloodstream (bacteremia) and the brain (meningitis).
Symptoms include high fever, cough with chest pain and mucus, shaking
chills, breathlessness, and chest pain that increases with breathing.
Pneumococcal disease can result in hospitalization and even death.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for pneumococcal disease at 2
months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12-15 months.*

**Polio**

Polio is caused by a virus that is spread by contact with the feces
(human waste) of an infected person. Symptoms can include sudden fever,
sore throat, headache, muscle weakness, and pain. Polio can cause
paralysis and even death.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for polio at 2 months, 4 months,
6-18 months, and 4-6 years.*

**Rotavirus**

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children,
resulting in the hospitalization of approximately 55,000 children each
year in the United States. The disease is characterized by vomiting and
watery diarrhea for 3-8 days, and fever and abdominal pain occur
frequently.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for rotavirus at 2 months, 4
months, and 6 months.*

**Rubella (German Measles)**

The rubella virus usually causes a mild sickness with fever, swollen
glands, and a rash that lasts about 3 days. If a pregnant woman is
infected, the result to the baby can be devastating, including
miscarriage, serious heart defects, and loss of hearing and eye sight.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for rubella (which is given in
combination with measles and mumps vaccines) at 12-15 months and 4-6
years.*

**Tetanus (Lockjaw)**

Tetanus is caused by a toxin produced by bacteria found in soil that
enters the body through a cut or wound. Tetanus causes serious, painful
spasms and stiffness of all muscles in the body and can lead to
"locking" of the jaw so a person cannot open his or her mouth, swallow,
or breathe. Three of ten people who get tetanus die from the disease.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for tetanus (which is given in
combination with pertussis and diphtheria vaccines) at 2 months, 4
months, 6 months, 15-18 months, 4-6 years, and 11-12 years.*

**Varicella (Chickenpox)**

The varicella virus usually causes a rash, itching, tiredness, and
fever. It can sometimes lead to severe skin infections, pneumonia, brain
infection, or death. Complications occur most often in very young
children or those with damaged immune systems.

*Your child should receive a vaccine for varicella at 12-15 months and
4-6 years.*