Immunizations
As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to protect your child. You feed them healthy foods, ensure they get enough sleep and exercise, and teach them how to stay safe. You also make sure they are up-to-date on their immunizations.
Immunizations are one of the simplest and most effective ways to help keep them safe and healthy. They help prevent serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases. They are also rigorously tested and scientifically reviewed to ensure their safety before being administered. So although some parents worry that immunizations may cause minor side effects, you can rest assured that the diseases and conditions they prevent are much greater than the risks.
Our team at Rexburg Pediatrics strongly advises that all children receive the immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We understand that you may have questions or concerns about vaccines, and we are here to answer them.
Why Immunizations Are Important
Vaccines prevent illnesses
Immunizations help protect your child from all the serious diseases that vaccines prevent. Diseases like measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox used to be very common in children. Now, thanks to vaccines, they are much less so. Still, these diseases continue to circulate in other parts of the world. It’s important for your child to be vaccinated even if they are not traveling outside the country.
Vaccines save lives
Immunizations help protect others around your child, including those who are too young to be vaccinated or have weakened immune systems. They are especially important for babies at a higher risk of severe illness from these diseases. When more people are vaccinated, it helps create "herd immunity" or "community protection." This makes it much harder for the infection to spread.
Vaccines are safe
Immunizations will never do more harm than good. As we mentioned, the diseases and conditions they prevent are much greater than their risks. Their most common side effects, such as a sore arm or fever, are mild. Serious side effects are also rare. Furthermore, vaccines also undergo years of testing before they are ever approved for use. Medical professionals and scientists are constantly monitoring vaccines for safety, so you can be confident that they are safe for your child.
How Vaccines Work
Immunizations work by preparing your child's body in advance to recognize and fight a virus or bacteria—that is, doctors use a weak form of a virus or bacteria to help their body build immunity to that disease. So when they are later exposed to it, their immune system is primed and ready to fight it off, often before they even know they have been exposed.
Some vaccines are given as a combination, such as the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine. These combinations help reduce the number of shots your child needs. They also help save time and money. On the other hand, some vaccines need to be given as a series, such as the DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine. It means that your child will need to get more than one dose of the vaccine to be fully protected.
Most immunizations are given in a series of shots, usually over the course of several months or years. It is because it takes time for the immune system to develop full protection. That is why it's important to complete the entire series of vaccinations according to the schedule set by the CDC to be fully protected and to help ensure that the vaccines work as they should.
Immunization Requirements to Attend School and Childcare
To help keep all children safe, the state of Idaho requires certain immunizations for students in public, private, and parochial schools and licensed childcare facilities. These requirements help ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated against these serious diseases.
Immunization Requirements for Licensed Daycare Facility Attendees
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and A-Cellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine
- Polio Vaccine
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- Haemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB) Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Varicella Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Vaccine
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Hepatitis A Vaccine
You can demonstrate compliance with these requirements by providing an official immunization record from a healthcare provider and a Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form. The latter is required for each child who received at least one dose of the vaccines above and is scheduled to receive additional doses. For exemptions to these requirements, exclusion criteria, documentation and retention of immunizations recorded by licensed daycare facility operators, and more information about the Immunization Requirements for Licensed Daycare Facility Attendees, visit IDAPA 16.02.11.
Immunization Requirements for Idaho School Children
Students Born on or Before September 1, 1999:
- One dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Four doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- Three doses of Polio
- Three doses of Hepatitis B
Students Born After September 1, 1999, Through September 1, 2005:
- Two doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Five doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- Three doses of Polio
- Three doses of Hepatitis B
Students Born After September 1, 2005:
- Two doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Five doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- Four doses of Polio, three (3) doses of Hepatitis B
- Two doses of Hepatitis A
- Two doses of Varicella
Seventh-Grade Immunization Requirements:
- One dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis Booster (Tdap)
- 1 dose of Meningococcal
Twelfth-Grade Immunization Requirements:
- Students who were younger than sixteen when they first took the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine must have two doses of the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine
- Students who have not previously gotten a dose of the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine or who had their first vaccination at age sixteen (16) or older must have one dose of the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine
You can demonstrate compliance with these requirements by providing an official immunization record from a healthcare provider and a Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form. Remember that you and your child must comply with the immunization requirements when they start school. Otherwise, your child will not be allowed to attend school until they have received the appropriate vaccinations or obtained a valid exemption. For exemptions to these requirements, exclusion criteria, documentation, and retention of immunizations record by school personnel, and more information about the Immunization Requirements for Idaho School Children, visit IDAPA 16.02.15.
Conditional Enrollment
In some circumstances, a child may be conditionally enrolled in school or childcare pending receipt of one or more of the required immunizations. However, they must have received at least one dose of each required vaccine and must be up-to-date with the immunization schedule for their age. Unvaccinated children are also not allowed to attend school or childcare if there is an outbreak of a disease for which they are not vaccinated because they pose a risk to other children. Visit these links to learn more about conditional enrollment in school and childcare:
- Idaho Conditional Admission to School (Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form)
- Idaho Conditional Attendance to Childcare (Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form).
Immunizations Exemptions
Your child might be exempt from all or some of the immunization requirements if you have a medical, religious, or personal objection to vaccination. But in the case of an outbreak of a disease, your child may be excluded from school or childcare, even if they have an exemption.
To request a medical exemption, you must submit a written statement from a licensed physician that states that, in their opinion, the immunization(s) would endanger your child's life or health. To request a religious exemption, you must submit a notarized affidavit that states your objection to immunization for religious reasons. And to request a personal exemption, you must submit a notarized affidavit that states your objection to vaccination for personal reasons. You can check all immunization exemption requirements at these links:
- Idaho School Immunization Requirements Exemption
- Idaho Childcare Immunization Requirements Exemption
Here are more relevant links for all parents and guardians of school children in Idaho:
- Parent's Guide to the School Immunization Requirements
- Parent's Guide to the Childcare Immunization Requirements
Read these documents to learn more about the immunization requirements and how to comply with them.
Recommended Immunizations by Age
Immunization schedules may vary depending on a child's age, health condition, and other factors. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides general recommendations for the routine use of vaccines in children, adolescents, and adults in the United States.
Birth
Upon leaving the hospital or birthing facility, your newborn should have received their first out of three doses of the Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine. This vaccine protects your baby from Hepatitis B, a viral infection that can cause serious liver damage. Your little one is most vulnerable at this stage since their liver is still developing.
1-2 Months
At two months old, your baby should receive their second dose of Hepatitis B, as well as their first doses of Polio (IPV), Rotavirus (RV, Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP), Pneumococcal (PCV) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
4 Months
At four months old, your baby should receive their third and final dose of Hepatitis B, as well as their dose of Polio (IPV), Hepatitis B (HepB), Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP), Rotavirus (RV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Pneumococcal (PCV).
6 Months
At six months old, your baby should receive doses of Influenza (flu), Pneumococcal (PCV), Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP), Rotavirus (RV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal (PCV), and Polio (IPV).
7-11 Months
Your child is not scheduled to receive any routine vaccinations between the ages of seven and 11 months. However, this is the time for your baby to "catch up" on any vaccinations they may have missed earlier. They should also get vaccinated with the flu vaccine every flu season.
12-23 Months
At two years old, your toddler should have protection against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. That's why between twelve to twenty-three months, they should receive doses of Hepatitis A (HepA), Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Chickenpox (Varicella), Hepatitis B (HepB), Polio (IPV) (between 6 through 18 months), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal (PCV), Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP). They must also get the flu vaccine every flu season.
2-3 Years
At this stage, your toddler should visit the doctor for their annual check-up. They should also receive doses of flu vaccine every flu season.
4-6 Years
Along with annual check-ups and seasonal flu vaccine, your child should have immunizations against Chickenpox (Varicella), Polio (IPV), Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP), and Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
7-10 Years
Your child should visit the doctor for their annual check-up at this stage. They should also receive doses of flu vaccine every flu season.
11-12 Years
Pre-teens should visit the doctor for their annual check-up and receive doses of flu vaccine every flu season. They should also get the HPV vaccine, Tdap, and Meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
13-18 Years
Teens should visit the doctor for their annual check-ups and receive doses of the flu vaccine every flu season. They should also catch up on the vaccines they missed earlier, especially if they are traveling to another country.
Visit CDC's recommended Immunization Schedule for all children aged 18 and below in the United States for complete details.
How to Get Your Child's Immunization Record
If you don't have a child immunization record, don't worry—you can get one from your child's doctor, a medical facility where they received their vaccinations, or any medical professional or facility with records of your child's vaccinations. You can also check with your state or territory's health department.
Once you have your child's immunization record, keep it in a safe place so you can easily find it when you need it. For missing or lost records, the CDC has recommendations on how to replace them.
If your child is behind on their vaccinations, talk to their doctor about getting them caught up. You can also speak to them if you're unsure which immunizations your child needs or if they are up-to-date on their shots. The Immunization Schedule is also a great resource for this.
Schedule an Appointment with Rexburg Pediatrics
Immunizations are one of the most important things you can do to protect your child's health. They help prevent serious diseases, and can even save your child's and other people's lives. Stay up-to-date on their immunizations, and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Our team at Rexburg Pediatrics is here to help you keep your child healthy. We offer complete, well-child care—including immunizations—to provide the best possible care for infants, children, and adolescents in a warm and caring environment.
To schedule an appointment, call us today at (208) 346-8400 or request an appointment online.