There’s been a lot of talk about kids’ vaccines these past couple of years. While many of those conversations not surprisingly surrounded the new COVID-19 vaccines, it’s important to remember all of the other recommended immunizations for children from birth through adolescence. It’s a lot to keep track of, though, and with everything else you’re juggling — hello, mental workload of motherhood — it’s possible to fall behind schedule or occasionally miss an immunization appointment. So, how bad is that, really? Does the standard pediatric vaccine schedule leave any wiggle room for catching up? Fortunately, staying up-to-date doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it may seem.
Immunizations like those that can prevent measles have been studied for decades, and carefully planned schedules have been created to lower children’s risks of infection. Pediatricians around the globe agree — including those we spoke to recently, who shared their advice on the importance of immunization schedules and what to do if you miss a vaccine appointment.