Do you know which immunizations your child needs?

Courtesy of UnitedHealthcare of Illinois

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a timely reminder for all of us to make sure our families’ immunization records are complete and up to date. According to America’s Health Rankings, a state-by-state analysis of the nation’s health, 91 percent of Illinois children aged 19 months to 35 months have received the recommended vaccinations – up from 89 percent in 2010 and just above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) target of at least 90 percent.

Here are a few immunization tips all families should keep in mind:

• Ask your doctor what immunizations your child needs and what age your child should get them.
• Follow your doctor’s immunization schedule. When your child is getting one shot, make an appointment for the next.
• Most immunizations are given by the time children are 2 years old, but some are given into the teen years.
• Ask your doctor for a copy of the screening and immunization record. This will help you keep track of your child’s tests and shots, which child care providers and schools will ask for.
• Your child may run a fever or have swelling in the shot location after getting the immunization. Check with your doctor about possible side effects and giving your child an over-the-counter pain medication. Follow the doctor’s directions carefully.

Another helpful online resource, www.uhcpreventivecare.com, provides information about preventive care guidelines – such as routine health screenings and immunization schedules – that are customized based on age and gender.