Childhood immunizations help kids enjoy better health by protecting them from serious diseases, including some that can be life-threatening. The board-certified pediatricians at Acton Road Pediatrics in Birmingham, AL, provide childhood immunizations by the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
How Immunizations Work
When the body is exposed to a virus or infectious bacteria for the first time, the immune system responds to it by producing antibodies. These antibodies bind to the infectious agents and work to neutralize or destroy those bacteria or viruses. The antibodies remain in the body and continue protecting it even after the illness is gone. If exposed to the same illness again, the existing antibodies can prevent sickness or lessen severity.
Immunizations are designed to work similarly to the way the body naturally fights illness and infection. Vaccines contain small doses of inoculated or inactive particles of a specific disease. Since the particles are inactive, they will not cause illness. However, the immune system still recognizes them and develops antibodies, which help the body develop immunity to that particular disease.
Vaccines have undergone many decades of rigorous scientific testing and are a safe and effective way to immunize children against a diverse range of serious diseases. Vaccines and immunizations are so effective that diseases such as smallpox and polio that once caused severe and widespread health problems are no longer a serious threat today.
Immunization Schedules
The experienced providers at our pediatric office in Birmingham, AL, follow the childhood immunization guidelines and schedules developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and recommended by the AAP. The schedules indicate the specific age when each dose of the different recommended vaccines should be administered. The schedules were designed to give kids vaccines at ages when they have the highest risk for exposure to certain diseases.
There are three different immunization schedules. The first outlines the vaccines to be administered from birth through age 6 years. The second schedule is for vaccines administered between the ages of 7-18 years. Finally, there is a third schedule that can be followed for children who either started the immunization process significantly late or have fallen behind the regular schedule.
Childhood immunizations help protect kids against numerous serious diseases. For childhood immunizations in Birmingham, AL, contact Acton Road Pediatrics at (205) 978-8245.