Immunizations

Since they’ve been introduced, vaccines have all but eradicated many contagious and potentially deadly diseases in the United States. In fact, the World Health Organization says there’s no single preventive health measure that’s more cost-effective than immunization. To protect your child, Austin Medical Group in Austin, Texas, provides the full slate of available immunizations. To get started, call or book an appointment online using the scheduling tool.

Immunizations Q & A

Why should I vaccinate?

Less than a century ago, every child got the measles, and hundreds of thousands of children and adults fell prey to polio and whooping cough each year. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s even familiar with these diseases outside the pages of a history book, and it’s thanks to the advent of vaccines.

When vaccines were introduced and widely used in the United States, they stopped these contagious diseases, and others like them, in their tracks. To keep these diseases from making a devastating reappearance, vaccinations need to continue to protect your child from contracting or spreading them.

What can I vaccinate against?

The vaccines at Austin Medical Group protect your family against:

  • Chickenpox
  • Diphtheria
  • Hib
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Influenza, or flu
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Pertussis, or whooping cough
  • Polio
  • Pneumococcus
  • Rotavirus
  • Rubella
  • Tetanus
  • Human papillomavirus, or HPV

When should my child get vaccinated?

Shortly after the birth of your child, as the baby’s immune systems are developing, the doctors at Austin Medical Group begin the immunization process through combination injections. Your child should have all of the necessary vaccines and boosters by age 2.

Outside of childhood vaccinations, your family members should protect themselves against the flu with an annual flu shot, which is best received in the fall, before flu season strikes.

Lastly, your child should also get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, between the ages of 9 and 12.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are considered very safe. In fact, just because the FDA has approved a vaccine doesn’t mean it never gets tested again. Batch testing, as well as site inspections of the manufacturers, is ongoing to ensure that your child receives a vaccine that’s potent, pure, and sterile.

The injections themselves may create some irritation or minor swelling in your child’s skin, but this typically resolves itself in a day or two. In rare cases, allergies have been reported, but the healthcare professionals at Austin Medical Group monitor your child closely after the injection.

To learn more about how to protect your family against contagious diseases, call Austin Medical Group or use the convenient online scheduler to book an appointment today.