Researchers and scientists conduct extensive research and testing on vaccines before recommending them for your child’s immunization schedule. Scientists spend years testing a vaccine in the lab to see if it protects against a disease. If the vaccine shows promising results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives approval to test the vaccine in people in clinical trials.
Clinical trials go through three phases to help scientists confirm that a vaccine is both safe and effective. Researchers closely monitor each phase to ensure participant safety and vaccine effectiveness. If a vaccine appears unsafe or ineffective, researchers stop the trials immediately. When a vaccine is successful in all three phases, the FDA reviews the data and decides whether to approve the vaccine for the public. During this review, the FDA looks at if the vaccine is safe and effective, the benefits outweigh any potential risks, and the manufacturer of the vaccine meets regulations.
Immunization Schedules
After the FDA approves vaccines for use, medical and public health experts from the Advisory Commitee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) review the data to make recommendations on who should get which vaccines when. ACIP meets three times a year to discuss vaccine recommendations and considers how safe and effective a vaccine is at a specific age, the severity of the disease the vaccine prevents, how many people get the disease without a vaccine, and how well the vaccine helps the body produce immunity or protection.
After all of this research and review, ACIP will decide whether to include a vaccine and at what age in the childhood and adolescent immunization schedule. Following ACIP’s decision, the childhood immunization schedule is approved by doctors such as pediatricians, family physicians, and OB/GYNs (obstetricians and gynecologists). FDA and ACIP continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of vaccines after approval.
This rigorous research and review process creates the immunization schedule, which outlines the vaccines your child should receive and when, ensuring they are vaccinated safely, effectively, and before exposure to certain germs.
Follow the Schedule, Protect Your Children
Several reasons make it important for parents to follow the recommended immunization schedule. By following the immunization schedule in the US, you are protecting your child against 14 potentially serious diseases, like measles, whooping cough, polio, and more, before their second birthday. There is no reason to delay vaccination. The immunization schedule is designed with your child’s developing immune system in mind.
Another reason to follow the immunization schedule is to prevent complications. Delaying vaccines could leave your child vulnerable to diseases when they are most likely to have severe complications. Similar to how you would give your child a helmet to prevent injury when riding a bike, vaccines can prevent negative outcomes of severe diseases. The immunization schedule also provides early protection to your baby before exposure to serious illnesses. It can take some time for your child’s body to use the vaccine to make protective antibodies with some vaccines requiring multiple doses. The experts on ACIP set the schedule with this in mind, recommending the right vaccines early, before your child is likely to be exposed.
Your child will not have the best protection until they have received all their recommended vaccines and following the immunization schedule ensures they receive the best protection possible. The good news is that your child’s vaccines are covered by insurance or if you are uninsured, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides free vaccines. Contact your local or state health department to learn more.
Getting your child’s vaccines as recommended is going to be the safest and best way to keep them safe and healthy.