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Immunizations: 2 month series
Immunizations recommended at two months are:
- Hepatitis B - If not begun earlier, this series of immunizations should be started now. Some doctors will start hepatitis B immunizations in the newborn period.
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and acellular Pertussis) - This vaccine causes more reactions than any of the other vaccines given to infants. It has three components and protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Pertussis is the most common of these three diseases and can be devastating to a small infant. Your child's doctor may use either of two types of vaccine against pertussis. Most parents and physicians prefer the newer, acellular vaccine to the older, whole-cell vaccine. Acellular vaccine causes fewer problems than the older, whole-cell vaccine and appears to protect infants about as well.
- IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) - For many years the oral vaccine had been used to protect children against polio. However, every year a very few children (one in 750,000 children vaccinated for the first time) would develop real polio infection from the oral vaccine, a modified live-virus vaccine. An injected, killed-virus vaccine is now recommended. It carries no risk of causing real polio infection.
- Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) - These bacteria caused many deaths and much suffering among children as recently as the 1980s. Since the vaccine was introduced, Hib infections have decreased 99 percent. Physicians rarely see these infections today, thanks to the vaccine.
- Prevnar®, Streptococcus pneumoniae - The Food and Drug Administration approved this vaccine for infants in February 2000 after many years of testing and use in older children and adults. It protects against bacterial infections caused by a type of strep that commonly infects young children. Although the vaccine has been effective in older children, it had to be modified for use in children so that babies' young immune systems would respond and produce antibodies to these bacteria.
Vaccination schedules and fact sheetsYour health care provider should explain your child's vaccination schedule and give you a fact sheet about each immunization. Read this information thoroughly before your child is immunized.
Your doctor will maintain a record of your child's immunizations. But you should keep a separate record of them. This will be especially helpful if you move or switch clinics.
These resources can help you keep informed about your child's immunization needs:
Immunization record worksheet (requires Adobe Reader) Return to "Volume 4: The second month" Pregnancy Condition Center: Your newborn Children's of Minnesota: Well child care
Source: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
First published: 05/07/2001
Last updated: 10/18/2005
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rogan, MD, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
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