Childhood Immunizations

BHC offers all required childhood immunizations to pediatric patients. Immunizations offered are:

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) - Recommended for girls/women ages 9-26 to prevent cervical cancers and other diseases caused by the Human Papillomavirus.
  
  
• RVP (Rotavirus) - Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea among children worldwide. All full term infants should receive their 3-dose series of the vaccine between 6 and 12 weeks. The series should complete by 32 weeks of age.
  
  
• D Tap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis Combo Vaccine) - This is a series of six shots that starts while the child is 6 weeks or younger and continues throughout the age of 6 years. A booster shot is recommended between the ages of 11 and 12 years.
  • Diphtheria is a bacterial infection causing a thick gray coating to develop at the back of the throat that makes it hard to breathe and swallow, and can result in suffocation.
  • Tetanus is a condition that affects the nervous system and causes painful, uncontrolled muscle spasms. Another name for tetanus is lockjaw. Tetanus spores can enter the body through a wound that is contaminated with soil, dust, or animal waste. The first signs of tetanus infection are usually a headache and spasms or cramping of the jaw muscles (lockjaw). As the poison spreads, it progressively attacks more groups of muscles, causing spasms in the neck, arms, legs, and stomach, and sometimes-violent convulsions (seizures).
  • Pertussis is a very contagious disease of the mucous membranes that line the air passages. It is also called whooping cough. Pertussis spreads easily from person to person. People get Pertussis by breathing in droplets expelled from the nose or throat of an infected person during coughing or sneezing. Pertussis begins as a mild upper respiratory infection then evolves into a severe a violent coughing spell making it hard for children to eat, breath, and swallow.
  
  
• HIB (Haemophilus influenzae) - Type B (Hib) bacteria cause severe infections, including meningitis (a serious infection of the outer lining of the brain). Infants and children under 5 years of age are most at risk for Hib infection. The series of four shots should be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.
  
  
• Hepatitis A - Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is passed in the stool of infected persons. The worst cases of Hepatitis A can cause liver damage and even death. This is a series of two shots, both being giving between 12 and 23 months.
  
  
• Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B is a highly contagious virus that can cause liver damage or worse, death. It is usually more common in adults but can be transmitted to children by an infected mother at birth or through close contact with an infected person. This is a series of 3 shots, one at birth, the next at 1 to 2 months, then the next at 6 to 18 months.
  
  
• MCV - Meningococcal Disease is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 through 18 years old in the United States. M.C.V.4 is recommended for all children at their routine preadolescent visit (11 to 12 years of age). For those who have never gotten M.C.V.4 previously, a dose is recommended at high school entry.
  
  
• Polio - (Poliovirus) Is a virus that before the vaccine was invented killed 1,000 people a year leaving many paralyzed. Now the virus is rarely seen due to the powerful vaccine. This vaccine is a series of four doses starting at 2 months, the next 4 months, then 6 to 18 months, then finally between 6 and 8 years of age.
  
  
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - The MMR vaccine is a mixture of three live attenuated viruses, administered via injection for immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. It is generally administered to children around the age of 1 year, with a booster dose before starting school at ages 4 or 5 years.
  
  
• Varciella (Chicken Pox) - The Varicella vaccine prevents against the chicken pox, a skin rash of blister-like lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp, and trunk. Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just before or when the rash appears. The vaccine is a series of two doses and can be administered to babies, children, and adults that have not been infected by the virus before.
  
  
• PCV (Pneumonia) - The PCV Vaccine is recommended for use in preventing pneumococcal disease in infants and young children from the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years. All infants and toddlers should get four doses of PCV vaccine, usually given at ages two, four, six, and 12-15 months.
  
  
• Flu (Influenza) - The flu is an illness that affects thousands of Americans each year. Common symptoms of the flu include, high fever, severe exhaustion, decreased appetite, chills, and achy muscles. Children should receive their yearly flu vaccine once a year starting at age 6 months until 5 years.
  
  
• TD (Tetanus and Diphtheria Combo Vaccine)
  
  
• Pediarix (Hib and Hepatitis B Combo Vaccine)
  
  
• D Tap & HIP Combo