What Is An Immunization?

Immunization is the process of protecting yourself against a virus or illness, hence becoming immune to an extent. Immunizations have helped us with many illnesses and viruses such as COVID-19, Hepatitis, and others. 

Why Is It Important to Receive An Immunization?

Receiving an immunization is strongly recommended, regardless of age. It can help prevent you from getting infected with many different types of viruses. Many healthcare providers strongly recommend getting specific immunizations to ensure you live a healthy life without getting a certain virus.

To speak with a physician about your immunizations and how they can benefit you, visit https://www.ucrhealth.org/make-an-appointment/.

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• Adult and child preventative and wellness care 
• Geriatric health assessments 
• Primary care pain management 

• Cervical, breast, and colon cancer screening 
• Prevention contraception 
• And more 

Matthew Louis, MD is one of our family medicine physicians practicing at the UCR Health Palm Desert location. Dr. Louis is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.  

To request an appointment at any of our locations, please complete a brief appointment form or call us at 1-844.827.8000  

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Dr. Patel takes pride in providing pediatric health care for the Inland Empire. Some of his best moments are getting to treat children of previous patients whom he saw growing up since they were newborn themselves. His patient philosophy includes treating every patient with kindness, compassion, honesty, dignity and a smile. 

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The schedule of recommended vaccines for infants can be confusing and overwhelming. As a parent, it seems as though you are always going to the doctor’s office to give your baby a vaccine. If you find yourself nodding in agreement, you may also be searching for clarity and a better understanding of the vaccine schedule, what vaccines do, and the optimum time to vaccinate yourself and your children.

Vaccines work by preparing the body to fight illness. The body practices fighting disease by making antibodies that recognize specific parts of illness-causing germs. This is called immunity.

Who recommends vaccines, and what is considered in the recommendation process?

The CDC sets the childhood immunization schedule based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) − made up of medical and public health experts. Among the topics discussed at each ACIP meeting are the safety and efficacy of the vaccines when given at specific ages, the severity of the vaccine-preventable diseases, and how beneficial these vaccines are to children of different ages. This schedule has to be approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Why are so many vaccines recommended before age 2?

Babies’ ability to mount an immune response begins before they are born. By the second trimester, a baby’s immune system has the potential to respond to large numbers of foreign antigens. They get some passive immunity from their mothers through the placenta. However, this immune system gets weaker as your baby grows, and babies don’t get protective antibodies from their mother for most vaccine-preventable diseases.

During the birthing process, a baby develops what is known as the active immune response. This helps deal with all the microbes that meets them from the world they are born into. Within the first week, the immune response gets even stronger, and breast-fed babies even get a boost from colostrum in breastmilk. Thus, the newborn baby typically has a healthy and robust, yet naïve, immune system. One could say that the newborn’s immune system needs a lot of training to sharpen the “memory” of its immune fighting cells. This memory is what protects your baby from birth and thereafter.

Vaccines given in the first 2 years of life are scheduled based on this knowledge, as this is the time children are most likely to die or have serious complications from some vaccine-preventable diseases. Depending on the vaccine, more than one dose is needed to build the best immunity or boost immunity over time.

Overall, children are exposed to fewer antigens in vaccines today than in the past. In the 1900s, a smallpox vaccine had 200 antigens. Today, for all the vaccines your child receives, the total antigen is 160. This is a “drop in the ocean,” considering your child is exposed to over 250,000 antigens once they are born. So, the vaccine schedule is designed to protect children when they are most at risk.

What are the types of vaccines?

There are four main types of vaccines:

• Attenuated (weakened) live viruses - Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox vaccines
• Killed (inactivated) virus or bacteria - Polio vaccine
• Toxoid vaccines have an inactivated toxin produced by the bacteria - Tetanus, diptheria and whooping cough vaccines
• Conjugate vaccines contain parts of bacteria combined with proteins - Hib

When should children get vaccinated?

Protecting your child starts before they are born. The Influenza and Whooping Cough vaccine are given to parents before a child is born. Once a baby is born, this is the recommended vaccine schedule:

Birth

• Hepatitis B

2 months

• Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, Tetanus
• Hib, PCV (meningitis)
• Rotavirus
• Hepatitis B
• Polio

4 months

• Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, Tetanus
• Hib, PCV
• Rotavirus
• Polio

6 months

• Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, Tetanus
• Hib, PCV
• Rotavirus (a third dose may be needed depending on brand of vaccine used)
• Hepatitis B
• Polio

12-15 months

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis A (2 doses given 6 months apart)
• Polio

15-18 months

• Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, Tetanus
• Hib, PCV
• Hepatitis A

What about an alternative vaccine schedule?

Children respond to multiple vaccines in a manner similar to individual vaccines. Vaccines do not overload the immune system. Spreading out shots leaves your child at risk of getting a vaccine-preventable disease. Parents who are concerned can reduce the number given at a visit by using the flexibility built into the current CDC immunization schedule.

Helpful resources:

http://immunizeforgood.com

https://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/kidstuff/newscheduler_le/

https://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx

Adwoa Osei, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician at UCR Health. To learn more, view Dr. Adwoa Osei’s profile.

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Depression affects people of all ages, even children. Childhood depression (also known as pediatric depression) differs from the typical emotions a child experiences as they develop. It’s normal for children to feel sad, low, negative, and cranky from time to time. However, if your child feels down often, or sadness lingers for a long time, your child can be at risk for developing depression.

The risk for depression increases with age through childhood and continues to rise in adolescents. About 2% of children younger than 12 years old will experience depression. This number climbs to 3.5-6% when looking at adolescents (12-17 years old), with female adolescents twice as likely as male adolescents to develop depression.   

Symptoms of childhood depression

Depressed mood is the most common symptom for pediatric depression. More than half of children with depression will also suffer from irritability, or be easily annoyed with little things. This will be seen as them being “grouchy,” bothered,” or much more sensitive to everything and/or everyone. Children and adolescents who are depressed may be more argumentative, frequently starting fights with peers or adults, and commonly have more tantrums or meltdowns. Other symptoms include decreased energy, changes in appetite and sleep, difficulty with concentration, loss of interest in school or social activities, and thoughts of hopelessness, self-harm, or wanting to end their life.

Treating depression in children

While depression doesn’t go away on its own, most children or adolescents with depression respond well to therapy and do not need medications. In some cases, medications will be recommended in combination with therapy.

Depression at any age is very serious, and if you have concerns about a child or adolescent with depression, talk with your child’s doctor about seeking treatment with a child psychologist or child psychiatrist.

If your child or someone you know says anything about suicide or self-harm, you should take this very seriously. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. This is an emergency and professional help is available.

View Dr. Michele Nelson’s profile to learn more.

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Forms of ADHD

There are three different subtypes of ADHD including inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type and the combined type. When kids are the hyperactive and impulsive type of ADHD, teachers notice because they disrupt peers in class, making it harder for others to learn. These children feel the need to move constantly, and struggle with impulse control. However, it is common for kids with the inattentive type of ADHD to be missed for evaluation in elementary or middle school because they don’t exhibit impulsive and hyperactive behavior. Instead, they are daydreaming and forgetful, constantly losing papers or homework, and requiring prompting to finish assignments. Kids with inattentive type ADHD do not cause behavioral issues in school, so they are identified later. The combined type of ADHD is the most common; children who have it present symptoms of both the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive types.

ADHD treatment

ADHD brain development continues until mid-20s, which involves further development of executive functioning, impulse control, inattention and hyperactivity. For that reason, some children and adolescents need treatment with medications to help treat ADHD symptoms, which are extremely helpful.  

If your child/adolescent is struggling with inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity, seek professional assistance from a child psychiatrist and/or child psychologist. 

View Dr. Michele Nelson's profile to learn more.

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