When your baby is born, they’re given the first of their vaccinations.
Ideally, by the time your child starts kindergarten, they will have received
all three hepatitis B vaccinations
diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib)
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
Many schools require proof that your child has been vaccinated, and might not admit your child if all of the vaccinations listed above haven’t been given.
But there are several other important vaccines you might also want to consider for your kids — as well as yourself.
Read on to learn more about these valuable vaccines.
1. Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
It wasn’t that long ago that parents would send their kids off to play with schoolmates and friends infected with chickenpox. The logic was that it was better to have chickenpox when you were young, as cases are worse when you’re older.
However, getting the chickenpox vaccine is much safer than getting the disease. While chickenpox may not cause many problems for some people, others may have serious complications such as bacterial infections and pneumonia.
Vaccine recommendations
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, all healthy children ages 12 months through 18 years should have two doses of the chickenpox vaccination.
The CDC recommends the first vaccination be given between 12 and 15 months, and the second between ages 4 and 6.
Each state has its own chickenpox vaccine requirements for young children in childcare and school, and young adults in college.
Even if you don’t live in a state where your child is required to get a two-dose varicella vaccine, some private childcare centers, schools, and colleges require their students to be inoculated for chickenpox.
Possible side effects
Research suggests that the varicella vaccine is safe for most people. Side effects are usually mild. They can include:
soreness, swelling, and redness around the injection site
fever
rash
Rare but serious side effects can include
seizure
pneumonia
meningitis
rash all over the body
2. Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that can lead to severe diarrhea in infants and young children. It often causes vomiting and fever. If left untreated, it can cause severe dehydration and even death.
According to PATH, an international nonprofit healthcare organization, each year more than 500,000 children around the world die from diarrheal disease, and one-third of these deaths are caused by rotavirus.
Millions more are hospitalized each year after being infected with the virus.
Vaccine recommendations
The CDC recommends that most babies get vaccinated to avoid contracting this virus.
Two oral rotavirus vaccines have been approved to prevent the rotavirus infection (Rotarix and RotaTeq).
The vaccines come in either two or three doses. The CDC recommends doses at 2, 4, and 6 months (if needed). The first dose must be given before 15 weeks of age and the last must be given by 8 months of age.
It’s important to note that some babies should not receive the rotavirus vaccine. Babies who’ve had an allergic reaction to a rotavirus vaccine or have other serious allergies shouldn’t get it.
The CDC also recommendsTrusted Source that babies with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), other immune system problems, or a kind of bowel blockage called intussusception shouldn’t get the vaccine.
Possible side effects
Like other vaccines, the rotavirus vaccine comes with some risks. Side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. These include:
temporary diarrhea or vomiting
fever
loss of appetite
irritability
Serious side effects have been reported but they’re rare. They include intussusception and allergic reaction.
3. Hepatitis A vaccine
Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months.
While hepatitis A doesn’t typically develop into a chronic disease, in some cases, symptoms can become severe and last several months.
Symptoms can include
fatigue
stomach pain
nausea
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes)
Vaccine recommendations
The CDC recommends a hepatitis A vaccination for all childrenTrusted Source between their first and second birthdays. It should be given in two shots, 6 to 18 months apart.
The hepatitis A vaccine is also sometimes recommended for adultsTrusted Source. Travelers to certain countries and people at risk of contracting hepatitis A — such as men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, and people with chronic liver disease — should consider being vaccinated for hepatitis A.
Possible side effects
The hepatitis A vaccine is relatively safe. Mild side effects can include
soreness around the injection site
headache
loss of appetite
tiredness
Rare but serious side effects can include
trouble breathing
Guillain-Barré syndrome (muscle weakness caused by nerve damage)
thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
4. Meningococcal vaccine (MCV)
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the protective layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream infection, or sepsis.
Children can get meningococcal disease by living in close quarters with others, sharing utensils, kissing, or inhaling the secondhand smoke of an infected person.
Vaccine recommendations
The CDC recommendsTrusted Source that children ages 11–12 years through 16 years get two doses of the meningococcal vaccine (Menactra).
In addition, college freshmen living in dormitories should also get the meningococcal vaccine. Some colleges require their students to be vaccinated before moving on campus.
Possible side effects
Research suggests that meningococcal vaccines are relatively safe. Mild side effects include:
pain and redness at the injection site
headache
fatigue
soreness
One rare but severe side effect is Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder that causes a person’s own immune system to damage their nerve cells.
5. Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)
Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is a common virus that’s typically passed through genital contact.
According to the CDCTrusted Source, almost 80 million people (about 1 in 4) are infected in the United States, with about 14 million people becoming infected each year.
Some strains of HPV don’t lead to other problems, but others can cause complications. These include:
cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in women
penile cancer in men
anal and throat cancers
genital warts in both men and women
Vaccine recommendations
The HPV vaccine is now generally recommended for both girls and boys at ages 11 and 12. For those who haven’t been vaccinated at that age, it’s also recommended for girls and women ages 13 through 26 years, and boys and men ages 13 through 21 years.
The only HPV vaccine that’s currently on the market in the United States is called Gardasil 9.
Possible side effects
StudiesTrusted Source suggest that the HPV vaccine is relatively safe. Side effects are usually mild and can include:
pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
nausea
fainting
dizziness
headache
Serious side effects are rare, but can include
Guillain-Barré syndrome
blood clots
muscle paralysis
6. Tdap booster
Tdap boosters are combination booster shots that protect adults and children against three diseases that used to be very common in the United States before this vaccine was developed.
These diseases are
diphtheria (a serious infection of the nose and throat)
tetanus (a bacterial disease that attacks the body’s nervous system)
pertussis (called whooping cough, which is a very contagious infection of the respiratory system)
Since Tdap boosters have been administered, the CDCTrusted Source reports that cases of tetanus and diphtheria have decreased by 99 percent and cases of pertussis have ped by around 80 percent.
Most states have some type of Tdap vaccination requirement for children, teens, and young adults.
Vaccine recommendations
The single-dose Boostrix was approved for use in children as young as 10 and up. Adacel is given as a single dose to people at ages 10 through 64 years.
The CDC recommendsTrusted Source that people who didn’t receive the Tdap vaccine at this age get it as soon as possible.
Healthcare professionals and anyone having close contact with newborn babies should receive a Tdap vaccination. This includes pregnant women, who should get the vaccine during every pregnancy to protect their newborn from pertussis.
Possible side effects
The Tdap vaccine is safe for most people. Mild side effects can include
pain and redness at the injection site
mild fever
headache
tiredness
body aches
More severe but rare side effects can include
severe allergic reaction
severe fever
