Vaccinations for Immunity

Vaccinations work to bolster the immune system, training it to identify and combat dangerous pathogens like viruses and bacteria. By stimulating an immune response, vaccines aid the body in maintaining health and guarding against illness.

What Are Vaccinations?

Vaccinations are crucial for the well-being of your child, your family, and public health at large. They are instrumental in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases, including:

  • Polio

  • Mumps

  • Measles

  • Influenza

  • Hepatitis

  • Whooping cough

  • Chickenpox

  • Diphtheria

  • HPV

  • Tetanus

  • COVID-19

What Is the Importance of Vaccinations?

A vaccine, such as a flu shot, serves as a type of immunization. It assists your body in developing a natural defense against a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies. Once your immunity is established, it aids in preventing you from both acquiring and transmitting the illness.

Vaccines function by enhancing your immune system’s capabilities. The majority are given during childhood, and sometimes, several vaccines are combined into a single injection to minimize the number of shots required. Antibodies generated by vaccines can persist in your body for a lifetime, offering protection against illness and disease. These antibodies enable your body to establish a defense mechanism known as the immune system. Adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advised vaccine schedule for your child is of utmost importance.

Vaccines offer protection against a wide array of infectious diseases. While ailments like the common cold usually cause only minor discomfort, historically, conditions such as smallpox and polio resulted in grave, debilitating complications and deaths.

Who Needs Vaccinations?

Vaccines are advised for individuals across all age groups, including infants, children, adolescents, and adults. Their importance is particularly heightened for vulnerable demographics such as young children and the elderly.

The most effective method to determine which vaccines you may require is to consult with your Rubicon provider. Our providers will assess your medical background, including your immunization records and any risk factors pertinent to recommended vaccines. Certain individuals, such as infants under two months old or those with specific medical conditions, should not receive vaccines. This underscores why Rubicon providers prioritize a comprehensive understanding of your health history, enabling us to discuss all medical considerations, including vaccinations.

Furthermore, some individuals do not develop an immune response to vaccines. This makes it particularly vital for their family, friends, and children to be vaccinated. When a significant portion of a population achieves immunity, the spread of diseases becomes considerably more challenging.

Immunization Schedule for Children

Immunizing your child against preventable diseases is crucial for safeguarding their health and that of other children. Updated immunizations are a requirement for children attending school or daycare.

It is advised that infants receive all their immunizations by the age of 18 months.

 

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Babies:

Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)

  • Quantity: 4 Doses

  • When: 2 Months, 4 Months, 6-18 Months, 4-6 Years

Seasonal Influenza

  • Quantity: 1 or 2 Doses Annually

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

  • Quantity: 2 Doses

  • When: 12-15 Months, 4-6 Years

Varicella (Chickenpox)

  • Quantity: 2 Doses

  • When: 12-15 Months, 4-6 Years

Hepatitis A

  • Quantity: 2 Doses

  • When: 1 Year, 4-6 Years

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

  • Quantity: 2 Doses

  • When: Birth-6 Months, 6-18 Months

Hepatitis B

  • Quantity: 3 Doses

  • When: Birth, 1-2 Months, 6-18 Months

Rotavirus (must be younger than 8 months old)

  • Quantity: 3 Doses

  • When: 2 Months, 4 Months, 6 Months

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)

  • Quantity: 5 Doses

  • When: 2 Months, 4 Months, 6 Months, 15-18 Months

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib)

  • Quantity: 3-4 Doses

  • When: 2 Months, 4 Months, 12-15 Months

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV)

  • Quantity: 4 Doses

  • When: 2 Months, 4 Months, 6 Months, 12-15 Months

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adolescents:

Influenza

  • Quantity: 1 Dose Annually

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (TDaP)

  • Quantity: 1 Dose

  • When: Ages 11-12 (Required in South Dakota for 6th grade entry)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • Quantity: 2 Doses

  • When: Ages 11-12

  • Or 3 doses to be given if first vaccine is given at age 15 or older

Meningococcal

  • When: Age 11 (Required in South Dakota for 6th grade entry)

  • Boosters at Age 16

Keep Their Health on Track with Scheduled Immunizations

At Rubicon, infant vaccinations will be administered more often to help establish their immunities. These examinations also incorporate growth assessments and conversations regarding your child’s behavior, development, nutrition, and sleep patterns.

  • Schedule a well-child exam at 15 and 18 months of age.

  • Schedule well-child annual exams from ages 2–6.

  • Schedule more frequent exams for children with special needs and chronic health conditions.

Immunizations for adolescents, spanning ages 10 to 19, will take place during their yearly wellness examinations.

Contact Us for Your Immunizations

As your primary care provider, Rubicon always encourages you to ask any questions you may have.

Over time, various misconceptions about vaccinations have circulated. Below are responses to some frequently asked questions and common misunderstandings concerning vaccines.

Vaccinations FAQ

Rubicon Healthcare advises maintaining up-to-date status with all recommended vaccinations to safeguard yourself, your family, and the wider community. Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time to discover more about the protective benefits of vaccines.

Please contact Rubicon Healthcare to complete your program enrollment.

NO, vaccines do NOT cause autism in children.

Regardless of information you may encounter, no credible studies have established a connection between vaccines and the onset of autism. Present research indicates that infants may be born with autism, well in advance of any vaccine administration.

YES, an infant’s immune system can handle a vaccine.

Infants encounter hundreds of viruses and bacteria daily, indicating their immune system is indeed capable of managing significantly more than a vaccine.

Vaccines do NOT contain toxins that will harm you.

Certain vaccines include components like formaldehyde, aluminum, and mercury; however, their quantities are minute, rendering the vaccines entirely safe and effective. These ingredients are employed to produce secure vaccines, and it’s important to note that the toxic variations of these substances are not utilized in vaccine formulations.

Vaccines do NOT cause the flu or other diseases.

A prevalent misunderstanding is the belief that the flu shot induces the flu itself. While you might experience mild, flu-like symptoms, these are merely indicators of your body generating the necessary antibodies, not a sign of having contracted the illness. The majority of flu vaccines are composed of inactivated or significantly attenuated forms of the virus.

YES, we do still need vaccines, even with infections declining.

The United States maintains a substantial vaccination rate. However, this should not lead to overconfidence.

​Many severe diseases remain prevalent in other parts of the world. Without vaccination, you could still face exposure, potentially from individuals traveling from other regions. Sustained vaccination efforts are crucial for maintaining low infection rates within our community.