Q: I’m will be a new mom, and honestly, I feel overwhelmed. With all the political debate around vaccines, I’m not sure what’s best for my baby. What vaccines are really necessary?
A: You’re not alone. Many parents feel this way, especially with so much debate in the news. What’s important to know is that the childhood vaccine schedule is built on decades of medical research and practical experience.
Vaccines protect children from serious illnesses such as measles, whooping cough, meningitis and polio, and the timing is designed so that children are protected when they are most vulnerable.
In Tennessee, the routine schedule begins with the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. In the first year of life, babies also receive protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, and rotavirus. Around a child’s first birthday, vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and hepatitis A are added.
As children approach school age, they receive booster doses to strengthen their immunity, and in the preteen years, vaccines for HPV and meningitis are recommended. Flu vaccines remain part of routine prevention. COVID-19 vaccines may be considered for certain age groups, but there are currently no requirements for children.