Becoming a new parent comes with lots of information and many decisions. From feedings to how your baby grows and changes to doctor visits, it can sometimes feel stressful to sort through it all. Vaccines are one of the many important things parents hear about during their baby’s first year.
What You Need to Know About Baby’s Vaccines
- Vaccines help keep babies safe from infections
- Vaccines are given at certain times when babies most need them and/or when they will be able to work best
- Vaccines used in the US are checked by health experts to make sure they work and are safe
Vaccines help a baby’s body to learn how to defend itself from germs. Getting your baby their vaccines on time is important to keep them safe from getting sick with:
- Whooping Cough
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Rotavirus
- Influenza (flu)
- Polio
- and more.
In the first year, vaccines keep babies safe from 11 potentially serious illnesses.
For more information about vaccines:
- Every Parent OC: Understanding Your Baby’s Vaccines
- CDPH: Answers to Parent’s Top Immunizations Questions
- CDPH: What Shot Does My Baby Need and When?
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics): All About the AAP Recommended Immunization Schedule English | Spanish
- HealthyChildren.org ((American Academy of Pediatrics): How Vaccines for Children & Teens Work English | Spanish
Finding Vaccine Information
Parents can get a lot of information from social media, news feeds, and parent groups. This can be helpful, but some information may not be true. It is important to know where to find information you can trust.
Trusted sources include:
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- California Department of Public Health – Immunization Branch
- Your healthcare team (Your baby’s doctor, nurses, clinic staff)
Getting trusted information helps keep your baby safe and others around you too.
