Vaccine Information

At Honeybee Pediatrics, we believe strongly in the safety and importance of vaccinating your child according the schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics. With all the recent news regarding vaccines in the United States, it is confusing to know what experts actually recommend. You can view the AAP vaccine recommendations HERE.

Vaccines undergo rigorous testing and continuous monitoring to ensure safety. Side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as soreness or low fever. Serious reactions are extremely rare.

Recently, there has been misinformation on social media (and elsewhere) that vaccines do not undergo placebo controlled double blinded studies, but that is simply not true.  And to do so at this time would be unethical to give a child placebo when we have the data that the vaccines are both incredibly safe and incredibly effective.
For more information on the safety of vaccines, click HERE.

Basic Immunization Schedules

Birth to 6 Months

Initial vaccines include Hepatitis B at birth, followed by doses of DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, and Rotavirus at 2, 4, and 6 months to build early immunity.  Hepatitis B doses #2 to be given at 1 month and #3 between 6-9 months.  Flu is recommended at 6 months and the first dose will require a booster one month later, and then each flu season, ideally before Halloween each year.

6-18 Months

Boosters for DTaP, Hib, PCV, and IPV are given along with the first MMR, Hepatitis A, and Varicella vaccines to strengthen protection during toddler years.  The vaccines can be given from 12-18 months with individual variances.

4-18 Years

Older children receive boosters for Tdap, Meningococcal A and B, HPV, and annual flu shots to maintain immunity through school age and adolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What side effects should I expect after vaccination?

Common side effects include mild swelling, redness at the injection site, or slight fever. These symptoms typically resolve within a few days and indicate the immune system is responding.  

Live attenuated vaccines (very very weak version of the illness) such as varicella, MMR, and rotavirus can cause longer symptoms.  

Very rarely, serious side effects such as seizures or serious illness can occur, but the risks of these issues are MUCH HIGHER with getting the illness rather than the vaccine. More info on vaccines and their side effects HERE.

Do vaccines cause the illnesses they protect against?

Vaccines contain weakened or inactive parts of germs that cannot cause the disease. They stimulate the immune system to build protection without causing illness.  This includes the flu vaccine!  So many people insist they get the flu from the flu vaccine but biologically, that cannot occur.  You can feel under the weather for a day or so after, but most people tolerate them well.

What about the Covid vaccine?

The COVID vaccine is recommended for children ages 6 months and up. While most children tend to have mild illness, the vaccine is safe and can reduce the risk of severe illness and long COVID.  
While there was a concern for increased risk of myocarditis in teen males after the vaccine, this study showed that the risk is actually much higher with gettin COVID illness rather than with the vaccine.  

Are vaccines 100% effective?

No vaccine is 100% effective.  Variable immune responses in individuals makes it challenging to get to 100% - some people are non-responders, some immunity to specific illnesses wanes over time, and some just don't mount the same response.  

However, vaccines generally prevent from severe infection or serious complications.  Also, when we protect a certain percentage of the population, we develop "herd immunity," which prevents the illness from spreading rapidly and helps to protect our most vulnerable citizens - young infants, immunocompromised, and elderly adults.  

What is VAERS?

VAERS, or Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, is a system put in place to track events that occur just after vaccines are given.

This is to provide ongoing monitoring of the vaccines to detect trends to see if there may be safety concerns related to a specific vaccine.

It is very important to note, that ANY adverse event after a vaccine is recorded, and are self-reported, and does NOT determine if there is a link - it allows us to detect trends and patterns.  Healthcare professionals are required to report certain adverse events and vaccine manufacturers are required to report all adverse events that come to their attention.