"Childhood" Vaccines

(Please note: Initially, I wrote this information with links to CDC information about these vaccines, diseases and surveillance in the United States. However, on February 8th, 2025, the CDC ceased to post new surveillance updates due to the recent directives of the Trump administration. Therefore, the general information should still be applicable but links may be broken and/or outdated).

Over the past century, several damaging and fatal infectious diseases became widespread in the United States and all over the world. In response to these diseases, researchers developed vaccines focused on controlling their spread, preventing long-term disabilities and numerous fatalities for a great number of individuals.  Because of the devastating spread of disease, these vaccines have become mandatory for children and teens in the US. 

It is estimated that, by 2019, nearly 24 million cases of vaccine-targeted diseases in the United States were averted by vaccines. If you experienced the fear and mass suffering caused by these diseases in the past, you might feel very grateful for the medical resources we have today.

Have you had all of the childhood vaccinations? It is often difficult for older adults to track down their vaccine records because the paper records have been lost, parents have passed away, or the pediatrician has moved on. Luckily, all 50 states (and DC) have been keeping records for several years, so younger people's vaccine status should now be readily available through a centralized state agency (these agencies are available through the CDC or your state's public health department).  Another way to find out if you have had a vaccine or a particular vaccine-targeted disease (and if you still have immunity) is to get a titer done at a lab through bloodwork. The titer will check your antibody status. If you have questions about your immune status, discuss it with a healthcare provider who can help direct you.

 

Note: If you were born in the US after 1950, you have likely had the vaccines (or related illnesses) listed below. The following are usual vaccinations recommended for children and teens.

MMR - The notorious MMR (a combination of measles, mumps, and rubella) 

Measles (M): The first "M" in the MMR stands for the measles (rubeola - not to be confused with rubella or German Measles) vaccine, which came out in 1963. The symptoms of measles begin with a fever, cough, and runny nose, and then a flat, red, scattered rash develops. The rash usually starts on the face and makes its way down the body. It is usually not very itchy. According to the CDC, "History of Measles", before the vaccine, about 400-500 people died every year from measles in the United States. Even with the vaccine, more than 1 of every 1000 still dies. On average, 1 person in 4 is hospitalized with more severe illnesses like severe dehydration, measles-related pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain); occasionally, blindness occurs. This primarily affects children but can also occur in immune-compromised adults (CDC Measles). It is extremely contagious. Not really something you want to mess with.

Looking at the above numbers, it is no wonder that getting the vaccine has been so strongly encouraged. People can become severely ill. Since the vaccine, measles numbers have gone way down. Most cases today involve unvaccinated individuals. Immunity to measles from this combination vaccination he MMR) lasts a very long time - possibly a lifetime. Because of vaccine hesitancy, an outbreak of measles that started with a few unvaccinated children in West Texas earlier in the year has grown to 1356 cases nationwide (July 2025), 12% of which have been hospitalized and three of whom have died. 

Mumps (R): The second "M" in the MMR represents mumps. What are the mumps? The mumps virus causes fever, body aches, fatigue, headaches, and - very characteristic of mumps - painful, inflamed salivary glands (glands in front of and below the ears). Interestingly, the mumps virus can also cause testicular and ovarian inflammation. At its worst, it can cause encephalitis, arthritis, deafness, and decreased fertility. It is rarely fatal.

The mumps vaccine was first given in the United States in 1967. We are learning that - unlike the measles vaccination, which lasts possibly for a lifetime - immunity from the mumps vaccination seems to wear off sooner - It only lasts about 27 years. Before the vaccine, there were approximately 186,000 annual cases in the US. Since the vaccine, there has been a dramatic drop in cases; however, the estimated numbers of each year have been very variable. For example 2006, for some reason, there was a sudden increase in annual reported cases to 6500. In 2016, 9200 cases were reported. Then, in 2020, only 142 cases were reported (possibly related to the fact that this is caused by respiratory transmission: In 2020, people were more careful because of COVID-19. Is this an attestation to masks and other stringent hygienic measures?) or perhaps there are differences due to reporting discrepancies. Moving forward, in 2023, there were only 157 cases of mumps.

Rubella (R): The "R" in the MMR represents rubella (German Measles - not to be confused with rubeola-measles). Rubella also causes a rash - a fine rash that starts on the face and also spreads downward. It is often accompanied by a fever, conjunctivitis ("pink eye"), swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, headache, koplick spots (white spots) in the mouth and a runny nose. The rash may  itch, and the skin can sometimes become flakey after the rash onset. If a pregnant female contracts measles, not only can she get very sick but the fetus may sustain organ damage such as heart defects, encephalitis, brain damage, deafness, cataracts as well as other problems (see congenital rubella syndrome), or may not survive at all.

The rubella vaccination was developed in 1968. Before that, sources estimate that there were approximately 3-4 million cases, 48,000 hospitalized, and 400-500 related deaths annually in the US. In fact, 1964-65, there was an epidemic around the world: In the US, approximately 12.5 million caught it; 11,000 women miscarried, 2100 newborns died, and 20,000 babies were born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Immunity from the series of two vaccines is life-long for most people. The vaccine has helped save many lives, including those of newborns.

The MMR vaccine is the one that people claimed caused autism back in the 1990s. While vaccines can and sometimes do have side effects, many researchers today believe that the origin of autism is more likely related to genetics (they have identified at least 100 related genes). Others surmise that, since we just recently labeled this disorder and began to classify symptoms and syndromes; and since we began to create screening tools, we are finding greater numbers of people with autism. Who knows what might be causing it - genes, more chemicals in our environment, both? Since the report about MMR as the suspected cause of autism, some concerned people have chosen not to get the vaccine for their children, and there has been some resurgence of these diseases and increasing sporadic outbreaks around the country.

While you probably got this vaccine as a child (most adults have), read about it if you hesitate to get it for yourself or your child. Remember that while you may fear that you could have a child with autism, skipping this vaccination, may be predisposing them (and their children) to severe illnesses that can have long-term debilitating effects and can also cause loss of life.

Do your reading and weigh the odds. There is a good deal of interesting information about the MMR vaccination on the internet, two of which I recommend reading in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) and NIH (National Institute of Health).

Varicella - If you have had chickenpox or had the childhood vaccines (a series of two vaccines), you will most likely be immune to chicken pox for life. According to CDC research, in the early 1990's, somewhere near 4 million people contracted chickenpox: between 10, 500 to13,500 people were hospitalized and 100-150 people died. Generally, chickenpox is a relatively innocuous viral infection. Because it was not usually people used to expose their healthy kids to others who had chickenpox that they would develop it and become immune. Most cases are usually fairly mild. That is not to say there cannot be complications: Chickenpox can cause birth defects in newborns and cause problems for the mother; it can also be dangerous for immune- compromised people. It is very contagious. Since the vaccine was developed, 97% of chickenpox in the US has been eradicated. 

Because this is a live vaccine, it can (very remotely) cause shingles later in life. That means it could - but probably will not - happen). For more about chickenpox, click here.

Hepatitis B -- Hepatitis B is a potentially severe viral liver infection  caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people only get the disease for a short time, but others can have it for longer than six months, in which case it is called "chronic hepatitis B." It is also a prominent cause of liver cancer. develop chronic hepatitis B if their immune system cannot fight it off (see symptoms). 

There are four hepatitis B vaccines. It can be transmitted through blood, at birth form the mother, through semen or vaginal fluids.

The most common are Energex B and Recombivax HB; usually given in a series of three vaccines in childhood. However, immunity starts to wane to only 50% effectiveness by ten years. We seem to be getting more college students who come in for boosters because their titers are no longer acceptable. So, if you think you are immune after the three Hep B vaccinations you got 12 years ago, think again. You might not be. You can check for immunity by getting a blood titer drawn at a lab.

Meningitis - Meningitis can be caused by either a virus, a bacteria or, occasionally, a fungus. This is a contagious and very dangerous disease that can attack the spinal cord and brain: It can spread quickly in the body, may cause physical and mental disabilities and can sometimes be fatal. 

Meningitis vaccines help protect against certain strains of bacteria only. There are two primary vaccines here that protect against different strains of meningitis: MenACWY (which provides immunity against bacterial varieties A, C, W, and Y for about five years) and meningitis B (which provides immunity to meningitis B for about two years). They are two-dose series given to most people in their teens or early adulthood - or those at risk otherwise). It is often recommended that people living in close quarters like dormitories get the meningitis vaccines.

 The meningitis vaccine was developed to help save lives. If you think you cannot get meningitis, think again. One of my coworkers got it working one of our clinics; it progressed rapidly and she passed away at home: She had been at work the day before she passed away: She just failed to show up the next day. That's just too close to home.

Polio - Poliomyelitis is a contagious viral disease that begins with flu-like symptoms which can affect the nervous system and progress to paralysis of the limbs and sometimes death.

Polio was first recognized about 200 years ago, and there have been several epidemics since then. According to the World Health Organization, in 1916, polio killed 6,000 people in the US. In 1952, 57,600 people caught the disease, and 3000 people died (mostly children). A vaccine was finally developed in 1955, and US cases decreased considerably. It is now considered eradicated in the US and in almost all other countries in the world (many cases still seen in Afghanistan and Pakistan).

There are two polio vaccine types: The first polio vaccination was developed in 1955. It was made from an inactivated virus. The second was the OPV in 1961—an oral, live attenuated vaccine. Both are still in use today and are required childhood vaccinations in the US because the effects of polio were so severe.. The vaccine is given in a series of four. Many sources believe that the polio vaccines confer lifelong immunity.

Rotavirus - This vaccination helps to protect infants and small children from rotavirus, a highly infectious virus that causes severe watery diarrhea and dehydration. Rotavirus development and distribution began in 1998. There are currently two different types of vaccines that are given in a series of two or three doses, depending on the vaccine given. How long the vaccine confers immunity is not yet known. Many primary care providers recommend it; however, it is only required in some US states.

Many vaccines have potential side effects. Some are fairly common: soreness at the sight, some aches and pains the next day, and a low-grade fever. If your arm blows up "like a balloon"—beyond a bit of normal inflammation—if you feel you are having an anaphylactic -or severe allergicr - reaction, or very unusual side effects, it is essential to follow up with a healthcare provider (ASAP if the reaction is bad).