Childhood Vaccines
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Chickenpox (Varicella) is a common illness that causes an itchy rash and red spots or blisters (pox) all over the body. Until the release of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995, it was a common childhood infection, most commonly manifesting in children 7 to 9 years of age. Chickenpox is inconvenient... READ MORE
Combination Vaccines
Combination vaccines began to appear on the market in 2003, with the introduction of PEDIARIX. The first 5-in-1 vaccine was developed because parents were becoming wary of giving their tiny children five shots on one “well visit.” Pediarix is a combination of DTaP + Hepatitis B + polio, injecting seven... READ MORE
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that attacks the liver, causing asymptomatic-to-severe illness. Most often, HAV infection produces a self-limited illness that does NOT result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. Infected adults develop signs and symptoms of illness more often than children. It is usually transmitted from person-to-person by ingestion of... READ MORE
HIB / H. Influenza Type B
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) has been commonly associated with otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis and other respiratory tract disorders. Prior to the development of the HiB vaccine, this bacteria caused meningitis in children under 2 years of age. The case-fatality rate of meningitis is about 5%. Haemophilus influenzae type... READ MORE
Menomune
Menomune (MPSV4) is a polysaccharide vaccine for serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 that has been available since 1970. The vaccine is approved for use in persons 2 years of age and older. The duration of immunity mediated by Menomune is three years or less in children aged under 5... READ MORE
Menveo
Menveo, manufactured by Novartis, received approval for use in 2010 to vaccinate against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. It is approved for use in people 11 to 55 years of age. Menveo Vaccine Package Insert Approval History, Letters, Reviews, and Related Documents – Menveo March 27, 2017... READ MORE
MMR - MMRV
Measles, also known as rubeola, is a viral respiratory infection. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized rash. The characteristic measles rash begins several days after the onset of the fever. The rash is said to “stain”, changing color from red to dark brown before it disappears... READ MORE
Mumps
Mumps, caused by the mumps virus, typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Mumps can cause inflammation of the testicles called orchitis. At highest risk are... READ MORE
Pertussis
Pertussis, referred to as whooping cough, is an upper respiratory infection caused by the bacterium, Bordetella pertussis (written in studies as B. pertussis). Pertussis presents as a deep and harsh cough that is worse at night and does not include fever. While the infection usually lasts 6 weeks, the severity... READ MORE
Polio IPV
Polio is a viral infection that has been associated with varying degrees of paralysis. On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announced on a national radio show that he had successfully developed a vaccine against poliomyelitis. For promising eventually to eradicate the disease, which is known... READ MORE
Polio OPV
Polio is a viral infection that has been associated with varying degrees of paralysis. On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announced on a national radio show that he had successfully developed a vaccine against poliomyelitis. For promising eventually to eradicate the disease, which is known... READ MORE
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea among infants and young children. In fact, nearly every child in the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. Immunity develops with each infection, so subsequent infections are less severe; adults are rarely affected. There... READ MORE
Rubella
While classic measles is sometimes confused with rubella, the infections are unrelated. Rubella is also called 3-day measles or German measles. The rubella rash can look like many other viral rashes. It appears as either pink or light red spots, which may merge to form evenly colored patches. The rash... READ MORE
Tuberculosis / BCG Vaccine
Tuberculosis or TB (short for tubercle bacillus) is a common, and in many cases a lethal, infection caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have... READ MORE
Vitamin A
In the 1970s, Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS, began working with communities in Indonesia, giving Vitamin A deficient children a supplement to help stave off vision problems. As Dr. Sommer and his colleagues conducted the trial, they also made a very interesting observation: children who were being given Vitamin A supplements seemed to have better outcomes if they became ill with measles or diarrhea. To verify the... READ MORE