Yet, even the most diligent parent can get confused about which vaccine a child needs. Recommendations change from time to time. For example, the pneumococcal vaccine was just added and the rotavirus vaccine has been discontinued due to safety concerns. Many childhood vaccines are given in a series, which means several doses are needed over time. Since the vaccines are given at different ages, it can be hard to keep track of which vaccines a child needs.
Doctors keep records of child health exams and immunizations.
Parents can keep track by carrying a wallet identification card that lists a child s immunizations. The card can be updated every time a child gets another shot. It will also be valuable if the family changes doctors or needs health care while traveling. For parents who are concerned about painful shots, some vaccines can be given in combination, reducing the number of injections. Doctors can also apply a topical anesthetic before the injection.