Most of us take vaccinations for granted and rely on them from our very first days. The whooping cough as an example can be deadly, especially for young babies who are too young to be protected by their own vaccination. Since 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded between 10,000 and 50,000 cases each year in the United States and up to 20 babies dying. One recent study showed that many whooping cough deaths among babies could be prevented if all babies received the first dose of vaccination on time at 2 months old, when they are old enough to get vaccinated (CDC). Still, some parents believe they know better and risk their children’s life by not vaccinating them at all.
For the US the CDC recommends vaccination of newborns / babies against the following diseases:
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Polio
- Rubella (German measles)
- Tetanus (lockjaw)
- Rotavirus
- Varicella (chickenpox)
For Germany the situation is almost the same and the following vacciantions are recommended for babies under 2 years:
- Hib H. influenzae Typ b
- Diphtherie
- Hepatitis B
- Masern
- Mumps
- Pertussis (Keuchhusten)
- Pneumokokken
- Poliomyelitis (Kinderlaehmung)
- Röteln
- Tetanus
- Rotaviren
- Varizellen (Windpocken)
- Meningokokken C
Sources: CDC, Robert-Koch-Institut
