Germs abound everywhere and we are constantly in touch with things, people and activities that have the potential to cause ill-health or sickness, particularly among children.

The body's defense against this constant exposure to things that may make children sick is natural immunity. Natural immunity can be innate, which means that it is inherited from the mother during pregnancy, or acquired, that which is gotten from exposure to germs after birth. The innate immunity tends to last only for a short while after the baby is born, at which time the need for acquired immunity becomes necessary.

Immunizations help us to possess this very essential acquired immunity, without having to suffer from the disease itself, by challenging the body to produce antibodies against potential diseases.

At PrimeCare Pediatrics, we believe that every child should be immunized. There may be a few children who are not able to take certain immunizations because of hypersensitivity, or allergy to certain components of the vaccines.

We follow the immunization schedule which is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This schedule is constantly being revised as new knowledge is acquired and new vaccines become recommended.

Diseases:
Scientists are constantly working to develop immunizations that can prevent diseases. Currently immunizations are available for use in children against the following disease conditions, or that which is caused by these agents. Other immunizations are also available for special situations.
	Diphtheria	Human Papilloma               virus (HPV)	Meningitis	Poliomyelitis	Rubella (German Measles)
	Haemophilus Influenza	Influenza	Mumps	Pneumococcal disease	Tetanus
	Hepatitis A and B	Measles	Pertussis (Whooping cough)	Rotavirus	Varicella (Chicken pox)

Vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

Picture gallery of Common Diseases that are preventable by immunizations

Videos of some Vaccine Preventable Disease conditions (Viewer's discretion adviced)

 

Current Immunization Schedule for Children ( 0 - 6 Yrs) Current Immunization Schedule for Adolescents ( 7 - 18 Yrs) Catch-up Immunization Schedule ( 4 Months - 18 Yrs)				IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT FOR GEORGIA SCHOOLS Two doses each of Hepatitis A and Varicella (Chicken Pox) are now required for entry into all Georgia schools beginning in 2007. The Hepatitis A vaccine is a 2-dose series. It is given from 12 months of age and can be completed as soon as 6 months thereafter or at the age of 2 years. The Varicella vaccine is also now a 2-dose series. The first vaccine in the series is given at the one year check-up and can be completed either a year later or from 4 years of age.
Other Vaccine Information:

HPV Vaccine - Questions & Answers For The Public

CDC Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)

Vaccine Safety Information