Vaccines are a part of many well-child visits. But they also should be part of the care moms-to-be receive to protect their unborn children.

"When we take care of pregnant patients, we're really taking care of two patients: mom and baby. We know that pregnant women are more susceptible to, and can get more ill from, certain illnesses, so it's important for moms-to-be to understand why certain immunizations are so important," says Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician.

Watch: Dr. Tina Ardon talks about vaccines.

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A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that many pregnant women are not receiving vaccines for the flu and whooping cough. The lack of protection can have significant consequences for moms-to-be and their unborn children, says Dr. Ardon.

"Pregnant patients are at greater risk for hospitalization from influenza infections and have a higher rate of complications," she says.

The flu vaccine is recommended during any trimester for a woman who is pregnant during flu season.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious – and preventable – respiratory illness, a hallmark of which is a severe cough that leaves a person gasping for air. Also known as pertussis, after the bacteria that cause the infection, the cough can last several weeks to months.

"Infants and younger children are at the highest risk for complications associated with pertussis, including apnea, pneumonia and, at worse, death," says Dr. Ardon.

She adds that nearly half of all babies under 1 in the U.S. who have pertussis end up being treated in the hospital. Complications are most serious for babies under 6 months.

"Vaccinating our moms-to-be gives the mom a chance to pass on antibodies to her baby to protect against pertussis even before birth."

Typically, infants and children get five doses of the vaccine between the ages of 2 months and 6 years, a booster around 11 or 12 years, and then one more booster as an adult. Pregnant women should get a booster during every pregnancy in the earliest part of the third trimester.

Dr. Ardon recommends that expectant moms talk to their health care provider if they have questions. "It is important for all adults, as well as older children, including adolescents, to be vaccinated, so we can help protect though smallest patients," says Dr. Ardon.

The post Infectious Diseases: Why moms-to-be need vaccines during pregnancy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Newborns and babies need a series of vaccines to protect them from more than a dozen potentially dangerous illnesses. Many new and first-time parents question whether their babies should get their recommended vaccines at one time or if they should be spread out. 

"That's a common concern," says Dr. Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician. "There are several things that parents should know about infant immunizations and why it's important to not delay."

"First of all, the vaccines were actually tested for both safety and efficacy given at that time. We know how those vaccines behave when given altogether at that very young age. Those vaccines were very carefully tested in tens of thousands of patients," says Dr. Jacobson. "We know that it's safe."

Watch: Dr. Robert Jacobson discusses infant immunizations

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Robert Jacobson are in the downloads. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network."

"Two, we know that all the vaccines work well when the vaccines are given together. In fact, that's a requirement for licensure — that the one new vaccine that we added 10 years ago isn't disrupting the work of the other vaccines that we've been doing for years before that," says Dr. Jacobson. "Our studies show that when parents try to spread them out, we know they're putting their baby at risk for those vaccine-preventable illnesses while they're waiting to get their child vaccinated. Those vaccines aren't being given years before the child needs them. "Those vaccines are being given now because your child's at risk now, and putting off vaccinating leaves your child at risk to get that infection. You're putting your child at risk."

Dr. Jacobson says studies show there is no there is no such thing as vaccine immune system overload. "In fact, the big immune exposures to children happen with their first feedings. They see far more immune active agents when they get their first meal than they do when they get their vaccines."

Delays or spreading out your infant's vaccines likely will expose the baby to more pain. 

"Every time that baby has to come back for a visit and sees that exam table, our nurses report — and studies have shown — that that's actually stress-invoking or -provoking for the child, and causes more anxiety and pain and discomfort than getting them all at once," says Dr. Jacobson. "We don't ever recommend delays. You're actually creating harm by leaving your child at risk and causing more pain for your child."

Babies are given the first of three vaccines for hepatitis B  shortly after birth. Infants should receive these vaccines between 1 and 2 months of age:

• Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Hepatitis B (second dose)
• Polio
• Pneumococcal
• Rotavirus

Parents are encouraged to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccination schedule to ensure that their child is protected from disease and illness. The CDC offers a complete list of recommended immunizations for all ages, including infants, adolescents, teens and adults. 

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Why and when children should be vaccinated
• Infectious Diseases A–Z: Facts and straight answers about childhood vaccines
• Women's Wellness: Vaccinations important for pregnant women

The post Infectious Diseases A–Z: Should babies get their recommended vaccines at one time? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Summer Allen, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, will share helpful tips to get your kids ready to start the school year, including the importance of schedules, and developing healthy eating and sleeping habits. Also on the program, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases specialist, will discuss the common cold, fighting the flu and when to keep your kids home from school. And Dr. David Soma, a Mayo Clinic pediatric sports medicine specialist, will discuss the benefits and risks of kids and youth sports.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Back to school appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Vaccines have received a lot of news attention lately. And while vaccinations are most often thought of as a childhood rite of passage, adults need immunizations to remain healthy, too.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently simplified the adult immunization schedule, questions about vaccines remain, especially from new moms and mothers-to-be.

Mayo Clinic family medicine physician Dr. Tina Ardon shares some of the top questions she receives in this area in this Q&A:

Q. What vaccines are important for a woman to get or make sure she's up to date with while pregnant or prior to becoming pregnant?

A. Prior to pregnancy, women should know about their varicella or "chickenpox" status, as well as rubella. Rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to serious complications or outcomes, such as miscarriage, birth defects or fetal demise.

Both the varicella vaccine and the vaccine typically given for rubella are live vaccines, so these should be received prior to pregnancy. Women should avoid getting pregnant for at least one month after receiving these vaccines.

During pregnancy, women should receive a tetanus vaccine; reduced diphtheria toxoid; and a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) booster which is given during the third trimester. No matter when a woman last received a Tdap booster, she should receive it again with each subsequent pregnancy. One of the benefits of the vaccine is that it will create a maternal antibody response and allow passive antibodies to be passed along to the baby for increased protection against pertussis. Additionally, any woman who is pregnant during flu season should receive a flu vaccine.

Q. Measles has been at the center of much debate lately. Is it important for a woman of childbearing age to know their immunity to measles, or should she be vaccinated again? 

A. Even if they have been vaccinated years ago, most people will have immunity. Since the vaccine for measles is a live vaccine, it is not something we recommend for pregnant women. That said, rubella, which is given in conjunction with the measles and mumps vaccine, is something we specifically test for during pregnancy given the risk for birth defects. Thus, we would rather err on the side of caution with keeping mother and baby safe.

Q. If a mother gets measles while pregnant, can she pass it to her child?

A. There is no concern that a baby will have congenital defects if exposed to measles while in utero. However, there are increased risks for premature labor, miscarriage and low-birth-weight infants. There is also concern for perinatal infection in a fetus if its mother contracts measles during the third trimester.

Q. If a mother gets any vaccine while pregnant, what is the risk to the child?

A. There is really only theoretical risk when getting vaccines during pregnancy. The CDC says, "The benefits of vaccinating pregnant women usually outweigh potential risks when the likelihood of disease exposure is high, when infection would pose a risk to the mother or fetus, and when the vaccine is unlikely to cause harm."

Q. Are there any other tips for men and women?

A.  It is important for both men and women to discuss their need for vaccines and updated immunizations annually. For adults, depending on age and time of year, routine vaccinations may include influenza, tetanus without or with a pertussis booster (TD or TDaP), pneumonia vaccines (there are two that cover different set of strains) and shingles. Hepatitis A or B would be important, especially if you were not vaccinated as a child or depending on personal risk factors, such as whether you are a health care worker or engage in international travel.

The post Women’s Wellness: Vaccinations important for pregnant women appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Do vaccines cause autism? Is it OK to skip certain vaccines? Get the facts on these and other common questions.

Childhood vaccines protect children from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases, including diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and others. If these diseases seem uncommon — or even unheard of — it's usually because these vaccines are doing their job.

Still, you might wonder about the benefits and risks of childhood vaccines. Here are straight answers to common questions about childhood vaccines.

Is natural immunity better than vaccination?

A natural infection might provide better immunity than vaccination — but there are serious risks. For example, a natural chickenpox (varicella) infection could lead to pneumonia. A natural polio infection could cause permanent paralysis. A natural mumps infection could lead to deafness. A natural Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection could result in permanent brain damage or even death. Vaccination can help prevent these diseases and their potentially serious complications.

Do vaccines cause autism?

Vaccines do not cause autism. Despite much controversy on the topic, researchers haven't found a connection between autism and childhood vaccines. In fact, the original study that ignited the debate years ago has been retracted.

Are vaccine side effects dangerous?

Any vaccine can cause side effects. Usually, these side effects are minor — a low-grade fever, fussiness and soreness at the injection site. Some vaccines cause a temporary headache, fatigue or loss of appetite. Rarely, a child might experience a severe allergic reaction or a neurological side effect, such as a seizure. Although these rare side effects are a concern, the risk of a vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small. The benefits of getting a vaccine are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

Of course, vaccines aren't given to children who have known allergies to specific vaccine components. Likewise, if your child develops a life-threatening reaction to a particular vaccine, further doses of that vaccine won't be given.

Why are vaccines given so early?

The diseases that childhood vaccines are meant to prevent are most likely to occur when a child is very young and the risk of complications is greatest. That makes early vaccination — sometimes beginning shortly after birth — essential. If you postpone vaccines until a child is older, it might be too late.

Is it OK to pick and choose vaccines?

In general, skipping vaccines isn't a good idea. This can leave your child vulnerable to potentially serious diseases that could otherwise be avoided. And consider this: For some children — including those who can't receive certain vaccines for medical reasons (such as cancer therapy) — the only protection from vaccine-preventable diseases is the immunity of the people around them. If immunization rates drop, vaccine-preventable diseases might once again become common threats.

If you have reservations about particular vaccines, discuss your concerns with your child's doctor. If your child falls behind the standard vaccines schedule, ask the doctor about catch-up immunizations.

This article is written by Mayo Clinic staff. Find more health and medical information on mayoclinic.org.

The post Childhood vaccines: Tough questions, straight answers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of the post.
Please 'Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network.' Read the script.

"Vaccination prevents a child from getting an illness. It also prevents them from spreading an illness," says Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician.

Dr. Cozine says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a standard immunization schedule for school-age children that begins with ages 4 to 6, "which we think of as kindergarten shots," she says. "So that's measles, mumps, rubella and varicella."

Dr. Cozine says the next set of routine immunizations is at age 11, "which is tetanus, diptheria and pertussis, and the meningococcal immunization."

It's also recommended every child get an annual flu shot. And HPV vaccination, which prevents cancer, can start as early as age 9. Dr. Cozine says it's important to educate families on the importance of childhood vaccinations. She likens it to seat belt safety.

"Immunizations are no different," she says. "If we have opportunities to protect our children against serious illness and potentially even death — even if the risk of that illness or the risk of death from that illness is really quite low — I'm all for it."

Dr. Cozine says if parents have concerns about vaccinations, they should talk to their health care provider.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Why and when your children should be vaccinated appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, shares helpful tips for getting kids ready to head back into the classroom. Depending on the age of your children, an appointment with your health care provider could include immunizations, a sports physical or just a good time to check in on your child’s overall health and well-being. Also on the podcast, Dr. Eric Moore, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at Mayo Clinic, discusses throat cancers caused by HPV. And Dr. Jon Ebbert, an addiction specialist at Mayo Clinic, explains how medical marijuana is used to treat pain and disease symptoms.

The post #MayoClinicRadio podcast: 8/18/18 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, will share helpful tips for getting kids ready to head back into the classroom. Also on the program, Dr. Eric Moore, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss throat cancers caused by HPV. And Dr. Jon Ebbert, an addiction specialist at Mayo Clinic, will explain how medical marijuana is used to treat pain and disease symptoms.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Preparing kids for back to school appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, will share helpful tips for getting kids ready to head back into the classroom. Also on the program, Dr. Eric Moore, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss throat cancers caused by HPV. And Dr. Jon Ebbert, an addiction specialist at Mayo Clinic, will explain how medical marijuana is used to treat pain and disease symptoms.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Back to school / HPV-related throat cancer / medical marijuana appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Jason Howland has more in this Mayo Clinic Minute.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

"Vaccination prevents a child from getting an illness. It also prevents them from spreading an illness," says Dr. Elizabeth Cozine, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician.

Dr. Cozine says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a standard immunization schedule for school-age children that begins with ages 4 to 6 ...

"... which we think of as kindergarten shots," she says. "So that's measles, mumps, rubella and varicella."

Dr. Cozine says the next set of routine immunizations is at age 11 ...

"... which is tetanus, diptheria and pertussis, and the meningococcal immunization."

It's also recommended every child get an annual flu shot. And HPV vaccination, which prevents cancer, can start as early as age 9. Dr. Cozine says it's important to educate families on the importance of childhood vaccinations. She likens it to seat belt safety.

"Immunizations are no different," she says. "If we have opportunities to protect our children against serious illness and potentially even death, even if the risk of that illness or the risk of death from that illness is really quite low, I'm all for it."

Dr. Cozine says if parents have concerns about vaccinations, they should talk to their health care provider.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Why and when children should be vaccinated appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.