Because infants and children are the most vulnerable to life-threatening disease, the CDC has a recommended immunization schedule for parents to follow (See infographic below).
SIU pediatrician Dr. Craig Batterman says vaccines are safe, and he urges parents to make sure their children get the required vaccinations at the scheduled times. “The success rate of vaccines is amazing,” Dr. Batterman says.  “The only true 100 percent success has been small pox and that has been eradicated from the world. We’ve come close on many other vaccines; the success rate is upwards of 99 percent in most cases of the vaccine-prevented illnesses.”
Dr. Batterman says that if parents have questions about vaccines, they should talk with their primary care physician, pediatrician or local public health department.
If your school-age child needs immunizations or a physical for school, SIU School of Medicine in partnership with Springfield Public School District 186, Central Counties Health Center and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health. Learn more here.
Learn more about childhood immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf
American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org.

-rb