Vaccines while Sick
Children can still get vaccines – even with a fever or mild illness
Because a mild illness does not affect how well the body responds to a vaccine, your child can still be vaccinated if he or she has:
- A low-grade fever
- A cold, runny nose, or cough
- An ear infection (otitis media)
- Mild diarrhea
Doctors at leading health organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians , recommend that children with mild illnesses receive vaccinations on schedule.
Keep in mind
There is no health benefit to waiting to vaccinate your child if he or she has a mild illness. It's important that children get their vaccines on time so they're protected against serious diseases.
Vaccines do not make a mild illness worse
Vaccines only have a tiny fraction of the bacteria and viruses that children encounter naturally. Because of this, the immune system can handle getting vaccines and fighting minor illnesses at the same time.
Vaccines do not make symptoms of illness worse. Like any medication, vaccines may cause mild side effects, like a low fever or soreness or swelling where the shot was given. To help with discomfort from these side effects, put a cool, wet washcloth on the sore area or ask your child's doctor about using pain- or fever-reducing medicine. These side effects are very minor and soon go away.
Children taking antibiotics can get vaccines
Antibiotics will not affect how your child's body responds to vaccines. Children taking antibiotics for a mild illness should not delay vaccines.
Serious illness may affect the vaccines your child gets
Children with moderate or serious illness—with or without fever—may need to wait until they are better to get some vaccines.
Your child may not receive some vaccines if he or she has:
- A chronic health condition (like cancer)
- A weakened immune system (like if undergoing chemotherapy or taking certain medications after a transplant)
- Had a severe allergic reaction to previous dose of a vaccine or an ingredient in a vaccine
If your child has a serious illness or medical condition, talk to your child's doctor or nurse. They can help to determine which vaccines your child can and cannot get at each visit and how to best protect your child's health.
Vaccines & Disease
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash; spread through air and direct contact. Can cause infected sores, brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), and can be life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, people who are pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-15 months
- 2nd dose: 4-6 years
Older children or adolescents should also get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated. They should also get a second shot if they have had only one chickenpox shot.
COVID-19
COVID-19 is a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu. Spread through air and direct contact. Can cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia); blood clots; liver, heart, or kidney damage; Long COVID, and can be life-threatening. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have had COVID-19. Learn more.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-15 months
- 2nd dose: 4-6 years
Older children or adolescents should also get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated. They should also get a second shot if they have had only one chickenpox shot.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through droplets in the air and direct contact. Can cause thick coating in the back of the nose or throat making it hard to breath and swallow. Can cause heart muscle damage, heart failure, nerve damage, and can be life-threatening.
One dose of DTaP at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6 months
- 4th dose: 15-18 months
- 5th dose: 4-6 years
One doseof Tdap at the following ages:
- 1st dose: 11 or 12 years
Flu (Influenza)
Influenza (Flu) is a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread mostly through droplets in the air. Can cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying conditions, and can be life-threatening.
Doctors recommend that your child get a flu vaccine every year in the fall, starting when he or she is 6 months old. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses for best protection.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a contagious viral infection of the liver; spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person. Can cause liver failure and can be life-threatening. Children with the virus often don't have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including unvaccinated parents, caregivers, sibling, or older children. These individuals can get very sick, and symptoms can last up to 6 months.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-23 months
- 2nd dose: 6 months after last dose
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a contagious viral infection of the liver; spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen. Can cause chronic liver infection, liver failure, liver cancer, and can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: shortly after birth
- 2nd dose: 1-2 months
- 3rd dose: 6-18 months
Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B)
Hib Disease is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream; spread through droplets in the air and direct contact. Depends on the part of the body infected, but can cause brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg, and can be life-threatening. Babies and children younger than 5 years old are most at risk for Hib disease.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6 months for some brands
- 4th dose: 12-15 months
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
HPV (Human papillomavirus) is a contagious viral infection spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. Can cause genital warts and many types of cancers later in life, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
When should my child get the shot?
11-12 Years
- Two doses of the HPV shot are needed, 6-12 months apart.
- If the shots are given less than 5 months apart, a 3rd dose is needed. If started after 15th birthday
- Three doses of the HPV shot should be given over 6 months
- If your teen hasn't gotten the vaccine yet, talk to his/her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
Measles
Measles is a very contagious viral infection that causes high fever, rash, cough, red eyes, and runny nose; spread through air and direct contact. Can cause brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), and can be life-threatening especially for young children and babies.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-15 months
- 2nd dose: 4-6 years
Meningococcal
Meningococcal Disease is a contagious bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream; spread through droplets in the air and direct contact. Can cause loss of arm or leg, deafness, seizures, and can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 11-12 years
- 2nd dose: 16 years
Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw; spread through air and direct contact. Can cause brain swelling, painful and swollen testicles or ovaries, deafness, and in rare cases can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-15 months
- 2nd dose: 4-6 years
Polio
Polio is a contagious viral infection of nerves and brain; spread through the mouth from stool on contaminated hands, food, or liquid, and by air and direct contact. Can cause paralysis and can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6-18 months
- 4th dose: 4-6 years
Pneumococcal
Pneumococcal Disease is a bacterial infection of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream; spread through droplets in the air and direct contact. Depends on the part of the body infected but can cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia), blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, deafness, brain damage, loss of arms or legs, and can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6 months
- 4th dose: 12-15 months
Rotavirus
Rotavirusis a contagious viral infection of the gut; spread through the mouth from hands and food contaminated with stool. Can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dehydration, and can be life-threatening especially for young children and babies.
Your baby should get either of the two available rotavirus vaccines:
- RotaTeq® (RV5) is given in three doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months
- Rotarix® (RV1) is given in two doses at ages 2 months, and 4 months
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through direct contact and droplets in the air. Can cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and small airways of the lungs, which is especially dangerous for infants and young children.
CDC recommends RSV immunizations during specific months to maximize protection during RSV season. Learn more.
Rubella
Rubellais a contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash; spread through air and direct contact. Rubella is usually mild in children but is very dangerous for pregnant people; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects and can be life-threatening.
One dose at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 12-15 months
- 2nd dose: 4-6 years
Tetanus
Tetanus (Lockjaw) is a bacterial infection of brain and nerves caused by spores commonly found in soil, dust, and manure; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin. Can cause seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, and can be life-threatening.
One dose of DTAP at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6 months
- 4th dose: 15-18 months
- 5th dose: 4-6 years
One dose of Tdap at the following ages:
- 11-12 years
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; spread through droplets in the air and direct contact. Can cause infection of the lungs (pneumonia), seizures, brain damage, and can be life-threating especially for babies.
One dose of DTAP at each of the following ages:
- 1st dose: 2 months
- 2nd dose: 4 months
- 3rd dose: 6 months
- 4th dose: 15-18 months
- 5th dose: 4-6 years
One dose of Tdap at the following ages:
- 11-12 years
Vaccine Before you Travel
It is recommended that you vaccinate at least 1 month prior to your travels.
Vaccinate at least a month before you travel
See your doctor when you start to plan your trip abroad. It's important to do this well in advance.
- Your body needs time to build up immunity.
- You may need several weeks to get all the doses of the vaccine
- Your primary doctor may not stock travel vaccines. Visit a travel medical clinic
- You'll need time to prepare for your pre-travel appointment.
- If the country you visit requires a yellow fever vaccine, only a limited number of clinics have the vaccine and will probably be some distance from where you live. You must get it at least 10 days before travel.
Vaccines 7-18 Years
Vaccines Ages 1-6 Years
General Information on Most Common Pediatric Vaccines
| COVID-19 | Mening | ||
| Dtap | Mening-Serogroup | ||
| Flu | Mmr | ||
| Flulive | Pcv | ||
| Hep-a | Rotavirus | ||
| Hep-b | Rsv | ||
| Hib | Td | ||
| Hpv | Tdap | ||
| Ipv | Varicella |
Protection Ages 7-18
What diseases do these vaccines protect against?
| Vaccine-Preventable Disease | Disease Complications | Number of Vaccine Doses |
|---|---|---|
| HPV (Human papillomavirus) Contagious viral infection spread by close skin- to-skin touching, including during sex | Genital warts and many types of cancers later in life, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat | 2 or 3 doses |
| Tetanus (Lockjaw)* Infection caused by bacterial spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin | Seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death | 1 dose at age 11-12 years Additional doses if missed childhood doses 1 dose for dirty wounds |
| Diphtheria Contagious bacterial infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact | Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death | 1 dose at age 11-12 years Additional doses if missed childhood doses |
| Pertussis (Whooping Cough)* Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; spread through air and direct contact | Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death; especially dangerous for babies | 1 dose at age 11-12 years Additional doses if missed childhood doses 1 dose every pregnancy |
| Meningococcal" Contagious bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream; spread through air and direct contact | Loss of arm or leg, deafness, seizures, death | 2 doses Additional doses may be needed depending on medical condition or vaccine used. |
| Influenza (Flu) Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact | Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying heart or lung conditions, death | 1 dose each year 2 doses in some children aged 6 months through 8 years |
| COVID-19 Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu. Spread through air and direct contact | Infection of the lungs (pneumonia); blood clots; liver, heart or kidney damage; long COVID; death | 1 or more doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine depending on health status. For more information: www.cdc.gov/covidschedule |
| Mpox Contagious viral infection spread through close, often skin-to-skin contact, including sex; causes a painful rash, fever, headache, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes | Infected sores, brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), eye infection, blindness, death | 2 doses |
| Dengue Viral infection spread by bite from infected mosquito; causes, fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, rash, joint pain, body ache, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling tired, abdominal pain | Severe bleeding, seizures, shock, 3 doses damage to the liver, heart, and lungs, death | 3 doses |
Care Coordination
For several years, Main Street Pediatrics has collaborated closely with AHCCCS to find innovative ways to enhance the quality of care provided to our pediatric patients. This commitment includes going beyond the typical services of a standard of care by our pediatric offices by training our staff in care coordination.
Our Care Coordination Team is committed to identifying and securing the necessary support to address our pediatric patients' physical health, as well as their social and behavioral health needs.
We believe that a healthy child requires a healthy environment and family. That's why we are passionate about supporting families beyond pediatric physical health services, striving to assist in all areas possible to help our families achieve their overall well-being.
We have partnered with organizations that help us provide the essential resources our patients need. Some of these organizations include PCCN (Phoenix Children's Care Network), UniteUs.org, Contexture, and many others.
If you have any questions or need guidance on something you're unsure about, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help and will do our best to assist you.
Taking care of your children is our highest priority. We know that raising a child is a rewarding – and very challenging – experience We are here to partner with you on this journey !
299 W Central Ave.
Coolidge, AZ 85128
22707 S.Ellsworth Rd Suite H101
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
130 S 63rd St. Unit 106
Mesa, AZ 85206