It’s almost always safer and more beneficial for any patient to prevent a disease than it is to treat it after it occurs. Medical science has worked hard to find solutions to common diseases that have had major health implications or killed significant portions of the human population.

Thanks to the development of vaccines, many people are alive and well, experiencing a life that would have otherwise been lost. For example, smallpox was one of the most destructive diseases in history, but it no longer exists outside of laboratory settings thanks to vaccines.

Immunizations continue to save lives and are a smart start for protecting your child throughout life, starting at birth.

During Pregnancy

Vaccination and immunization support often starts before the birth of the child. Mothers can get some vaccines while pregnant to protect the child against major diseases. It’s always recommended to discuss your specifics with your pediatrician and primary care physician.

Recommendations may include vaccination against whooping cough. Getting this immunization during your pregnancy allows the body time to create protective antibodies and pass some to the baby before birth. These antibodies provide short-term, early protection against whooping cough, a potentially life-threatening illness for newborns.

Annual flu vaccinations can also be a good idea for expecting mothers. Changes in heart and immune functions can make you more susceptible to the flu, and catching it may lead to related complications at and after birth.

If a mother has hepatitis B, the baby is at high risk of becoming infected during delivery. Some mothers receive a hep-B immunization to protect the child against infection.

Immunization Schedule for Birth to Age 6

Immunizations help protect our children and us against serious diseases, and may start at birth.

“Vaccines are very, very important and we shouldn’t play games with them,” says Dr. Aaron Eli Glatt, chairman of medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in New York. “Children should follow regular vaccine schedules whenever possible. However, you can contact your physician to learn more about the catch-up schedules for you if you’ve missed any vaccinations.”

Glatt says the most important thing is to get the right vaccines for each child. He recommends speaking with your pediatrician about vaccines and using the CDC’s guidance to stay on track. Here are the most important vaccines and the currently accepted timetable to receive them.

Hepatitis B

The hep-B vaccine is administered in three doses: within the first 24 hours of life, during months 1-2 and then during months 6-18. Hepatitis B infections happen through contact with blood and bodily fluids, and can lead to weakness, jaundice, chronic infections and liver failure if left untreated.

Rotavirus (RV)

The RV immunization series is a two- or three-dose set and is administered at 2 and 4 months, with the third potential dose administered at 6 months. Rotavirus is typically ingested and can lead to diarrhea, fever, vomiting and complications due to severe dehydration.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP)

The DTaP vaccination provides protection against diphtheria (causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to heart failure, paralysis or death), tetanus (leads to stiffening of muscles and difficulty swallowing as well as brittle bones, breathing difficulty or death), and pertussis (severe cough and runny nose to pneumonia or death). It is a five-dose series that should be given at 2, 4 and 6 months, between 15 and 18 months, and then again between ages 4 and 6.

Hib

The Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenza type b, a disease spread through the air that may not have immediate symptoms. However, the bacteria can enter the blood and lead to meningitis infections in the brain, pneumonia and life-threatening infections that can block the windpipe. To prevent the infection, the Hib vaccine is given in either a three-dose series (at 2, 4 and 12-15 months) or a four-dose series (2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months).

Pneumococcal (PCV13)

Pneumococcal vaccinations are designed to protect your child against pneumococcus, an infection that can lead to pneumonia, blood infections, meningitis or death. The four-dose series occurs at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months.

Polio

Most children should also receive an immunization of the inactivated polio virus. It protects against developing polio, a severe illness that can lead to significant paralysis and death. The polio vaccine occurs in four doses: at 2, 4 and 6-18 months, then between ages 4 and 6.

Influenza

Flu vaccines are produced annually and should be delivered when appropriate for each child. Health status can affect this, so it’s always best to discuss each application with your pediatrician. The first dose can be delivered as early as 6 months, and some immunizations for younger children may occur in two doses.

MMR

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccination is a two-dose series that should be first delivered at 12-15 months and then again between ages 4 and 6. MMR protects children against diseases that can lead to severe swelling of the glands and brain, meningitis, inflammation in sex organs and major risks for any pregnancy once the child enters adulthood.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

The varicella vaccine protects children against chickenpox and can limit the risk of the child developing shingles when they become an adult. Chickenpox generally causes a rash and fever but can lead to bleeding disorders, swelling of the brain and pneumonia. It is generally provided as a two-dose series, with the first happening between 12 and 15 months and the second between ages 4 and 6.

Hepatitis A

This vaccine combats hepatitis A, a disease associated with contaminated food or water. It can cause severe stomach pain, loss of appetite and ultimately lead to liver failure or disorders of the kidney, pancreas and blood.

The hepatitis A vaccination is often delivered in two doses, starting at around 1 year and with the final dose delivered six to 12 months later.

Immunization Schedule for Ages 7 to 18

Childhood vaccinations include a variety of protections for preteens and teens. It’s important for parents to read the vaccination schedules for children in this age group because it provides a variety of options for catching up on immunizations that were missed earlier.

Vaccines that typically can be given if the child missed a dose earlier in life include hepatitis A and B, polio, MMR, pneumococcal and chickenpox.

For preteens and teens, four main vaccinations are generally appropriate.

Influenza

Beginning at age 7, the influenza vaccination typically shifts to be a single dose each year. Influenza is highly contagious, and this immunization can give significant protection as children move into larger public settings, such as school.

Tdap

Immunity can wear off over time, so some early vaccinations require boosters later in life. Tdap is among them, serving as the booster for DTaP’s protection against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis. Tdap has a reduced dose of diphtheria and pertussis and can be administered starting at age 11. Later on in life, many pregnant women receive a single dose of Tdap during weeks 27 to 36 to protect mother and child.

HPV

The human papillomavirus is a common virus that infects people in their teens and early 20s. According to the CDC, about 14 million people get HPV each year. It can lead to cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women as well as penile cancer in men. The HPV vaccine is recommended for children beginning at age 11-12 and can be delivered as a two- or three-dose series based on the child’s age and the specific formula of the vaccine.

Meningococcal (MenACWY and MenB)

Meningococcal disease is a significant risk that, when it occurs, has two common outcomes: bloodstream infections and infections in the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It kills about 10% of people who are infected. There are two possible vaccinations your child may receive.

The meningococcal serogroup A, C, W and Y vaccination (MenACWY) is a two-dose series delivered at ages 11-12 and 16. MenB is a vaccine against meningococcal serogroup B and may be administered to adolescents whose doctors determine that they are not at an increased risk. It is always best to receive a specific doctor’s recommendation for MenB.

The Onus Is on the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Many Americans are concerned about the health and efficacy of vaccinations and immunizations. Their concerns are valid, and vaccines are important enough to the health of the individual and community that all questions should be approached reasonably and answered appropriately.

Not every child or adult should necessarily get every single vaccination. Doctors should be there to help make this an informed decision.

“It is a legitimate question for every patient to ask their doctor about the benefits and risks associated with getting a vaccine,” Glatt says. “People who like their pediatrician and trust their advice on other things will often listen to their pediatrician when it comes to vaccines.”