In fact, diseases that are uncommon in most parts of the United States today are nearly epidemic in American communities where children are not properly vaccinated. A resurgence of measles between 1989 and 1991, however, resulted in 55,000 cases and 132 deaths, mostly among unvaccinated babies and toddlers. In urban areas, minority children are four to nine times as likely to get measles as white children. The resurgence of childhood illnesses costs money as well as lives. Whether a child receives vaccinations at a pediatrician's office or health department, the health-care provider is expected to keep careful records of when each shot was given and what brand it was.
Some brands have slightly different schedules than others.
Parents should ask for copies of the shot record to keep at home as a reminder for the next round. Even if a child misses an appointment, it's possible to catch up. In general, if you miss a vaccine, you can get it the next time around. Immunization schedules have changed in recent years. Several new vaccines have been added, and old ones have been reformulated to be safer than ever.