Overview
Children under five years of age are especially susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. While newborn babies are immune to some diseases because they have antibodies they received from their mothers, this immunity wears off in the first year of life. If your child is not vaccinated and is exposed to a disease germ, the child's body may not be strong enough to fight the disease.
Be sure your child's current, updated immunization records are on file with your child's doctor, and that you also have a copy on hand. A vaccination health record helps you and your health care provider keep your child's vaccinations on schedule. If you move or change providers, having an accurate record might prevent your child from repeating vaccinations he or she has already had. A shot record should be started when your child receives his or her first vaccination, and updated with each vaccination visit. Please talk with your child's physician or health care provider if you have additional questions about immunizations.
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