By now, you and Baby are probably quite experienced with vaccines. This can either mean that you’re a well-oiled machine about it by now, or that it’s getting harder as they start to recognize the doctor’s office as the place with all of the needles. Either way though, the 1-year immunizations are the beginning of the end on their vaccine-filled career. After this visit, assuming Baby is already up to date on all of the rest of their vaccines, they will only have two more vaccines to get in the next year, and after that, aside from possible flu vaccines, they shouldn’t need more until their 4-year appointment.
What shots to expect
The three main shots Baby will be getting on this visit are the first MMR vaccine, which vaccinates against measles, mumps and rubella, the varicella vaccine, which vaccinates against chickenpox, and the first of two doses of a Hepatitis A vaccine. The MMR and varicella vaccines can be given as a combined vaccine, though the MMR-V does have an increased, though still slight, risk of passing side-effects like a low-grade fever or swelling.
This is also a good time to get Baby caught up on any vaccines you may have missed, and depending on the season, it might be a good time for Baby to get their flu shot.
Reasons to delay or skip vaccines
Most links between recommended vaccinations and health concerns have been disproved. For example, there is no correlation between any vaccination and autism. In fact, a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows autism is not even more prevalent in vaccinated children who may be genetically predisposed to autism than in unvaccinated children with the same predisposition. Still, there are a few medical concerns which might be good reasons to delay or omit vaccinations. For example, if a child has already had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine that is generally administered more than once to make sure they has full immunity, their doctor will probably suggest that they omit future doses. Children who are allergic to any of the ingredients of the vaccines may also be advised not to get them.
Other people who may not be well-suited for vaccination, or who may be advised to delay, are children who have a fever or are otherwise sick on the scheduled date of their checkup, children who have recently received blood transfusions or have ever had a low platelet count, or children with cancer or any kind of disease affecting the immune system.
