Most people have at least one memory of getting immunized as a child. Mine were done in school. Scores of children lined up, little pieces of paper in their hand that were soon exchanged for a small white strip of gauze held over a newly pierced arm. It was somehow a right of passage; you may not have understood everything, but you understood that it was "for your own good."

Nowadays, most immunizations are given in the doctor’s office and it’s the parent who has to keep track of all the shots a child has or hasn’t had and when, which can be incredibly confusing. To complicate it further, rumors about a connection between immunizations and autism persist, making parents more than a bit nervous.

Kelly Pollard from Livermore, Calif., is one of those parents. "It was one of the first major decisions I had to make as a mom," says Pollard. "I read tons of parenting magazines and books when I was pregnant. Occasionally, I'd come across immunization articles citing pros or cons, sometimes only cons. What scared me most of all was the big A word: autism."

Pollard did more research and decided to go ahead and have her child immunized. "After really considering it, I realized that for me, the benefits outweighed the possible risks," says Pollard. "I figured my son had more of a chance of coming down with a nasty virus/disease from crowds than the very slim possibility that he may or may not have a nasty side effect from the shots."

The general consensus of experts, in spite of the ongoing controversy, is that immunizations are not only safe, but one of the single most important things we can do for our children and for society.

Dr. Jennifer Shu, director of Normal Newborn Nursery at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and co-author of the book Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005), believes that, quite simply, immunizations save lives.

"Children used to get very sick, become disabled or even die from diseases that vaccines can now prevent," says Dr. Shu. "Even though these diseases are uncommon now, if we were to stop immunizing, these illnesses would come back. The vaccines currently recommended for children are very safe, so the benefits of immunizing overwhelmingly outweigh the risks."

Polio, a disease from a virus that used to cause paralysis in children, is now completely eliminated from the Western Hemisphere because of successful immunizing. Dr. Shu says many of these illnesses are still just a "plane ride" away, so we can’t stop immunizing now.

"An ounce of immunization prevention is worth a pound of cure, and for some of these diseases, a cure does not exist," says Dr. Shu. "While the risk of side effects from vaccines is rare, the risk of not immunizing can be devastating."

Dr. Shu says it’s understandable for parents to be concerned about the risks of immunizations. It’s important for parents to be concerned and well informed about anything given to their children, whether it’s vitamins, an antibiotic or vaccines.

"Many vaccines are given when a child is developing, and it may appear as if the vaccines are causing developmental delays when the timing is actually a coincidence," says Dr. Shu. "I would urge parents to seek scientifically sound and accurate information on Web sites such as the American Academy of Pediatrics’ www.aap.org and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov and to talk to their own pediatricians for more answers."

Dr. Daniel Johnson, medical director and pediatric infectious disease specialist for the Sinai Children's Hospital in Chicago, says the risks and reactions a child may develop depend on the vaccine given.

"The frequency and extent of negative reactions to vaccines varies with the vaccine being used," says Dr. Johnson. "Common ones that are given by injection include pain or redness at the injection site, fever and malaise. After that, there are rare side effects that can include severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, seizures, prolonged crying or even encephalitis. Much less severe items such as difficulty sleeping, body ache or headache can also occur. Fortunately, the severe reactions are very rare."

Dr. Johnson says it is important to look for symptoms and contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if these symptoms occur. Also, most clinics offer handouts about the immunizations your child has received. They contain valuable information concerning possible side effects. If you have any questions or concerns about immunizations, be sure to bring them up at your next visit to the pediatrician.

Many parents are overwhelmed by the vaccine schedule. One good idea is to figure out when your child needs his shots ahead of time and put them on the calendar for an entire year at a time. Using your child’s birthday as a reminder to do this increases your chances of keeping her immunizations current. The following chart is the current recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and will help you keep track of what vaccines your child needs and when.

Click here for the 2005 United States Recommended Immunization Schedule.

Want to see more?

• The Pros and Cons of Infant Vaccines: What's Best for Your Baby?
• Immunizations on the Record: Preventative Measures to Keep Your Children Healthy
• Talk about it!