The Benefits of Timely Immunization: Staying on Schedule

Immunizations protect children from many serious illnesses and diseases so it is important to stay on schedule. Falling behind the recommended immunization schedule puts kids at risk. The experienced providers at Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, follow the immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and will ensure your child remains up to date.

How Immunizations Work

The first time a child is exposed to an illness, the immune system begins producing antibodies to fight it. The antibodies bind to the infectious bacteria or virus causing the illness and neutralize or destroy them. The antibodies remain in the body even after the illness has cleared up, which helps kids develop resistance to that illness. If children are exposed to the same illness again, the antibodies help prevent or lessen the severity of symptoms.

Immunizations work similarly to naturally produced antibodies. They contain small doses of inactive or inoculated particles of an illness or disease. The inactive particles cannot cause illness, but the immune system still recognizes them as foreign and begins developing antibodies. The antibodies help kids develop resistance or immunity to that particular illness or disease.

Benefits of Staying on Schedule

The skilled physicians at our children’s clinic in West Jordan, UT, follow the immunization guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are also recommended by the AAP. The schedules outline the ages at which each vaccine and subsequent doses should be administered. We can help child stay up to date with all recommended vaccinations and immunizations.

One of the primary benefits of adhering to the recommended schedule is that it was designed to administer vaccines at ages when children have the highest risk of exposure to certain illnesses or diseases. Staying on schedule ensures kids receive specific immunizations at the right time when they are most susceptible.

Timely immunizations also give vaccines time to work by prompting the body to develop antibodies before children are at highest risk of being exposed to contagious illnesses or diseases. If a child receives a vaccine shortly before exposure to a particular disease but the dose was administered much later than the recommended guidelines, the child could still be vulnerable to contracting the disease. Each dose of a vaccine should be administered at the recommended age and interval to maximize immunity.

There is an alternate schedule for kids who began the immunization schedule late or who are more than one month behind schedule even after starting on time. If your child is behind the recommended immunization schedule or is starting them late, our pediatric team can help them catch up.

Immunizations help children stay healthy by protecting them from many serious illnesses and diseases, but is important to stay on schedule. To schedule an appointment for your child’s immunizations, call Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, at (801) 563-1975.