Infant Vaccine Quiz
A pregnant woman passes antibodies to her unborn baby through the placenta to protect against certain diseases. How long does this natural immunity last?
Test your knowledge of vaccines against a variety of diseases that can affect your child. This quiz is based on information from the CDC.
1. A pregnant woman passes antibodies to her unborn baby
through the placenta to protect against certain diseases. About how long does this
natural immunity last after birth?
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A pregnant woman passes on antibodies to those diseases she herself is immune to. This natural immunity lasts for a very short time. And women can't pass on immunity to all vaccinated diseases. So vaccines
need to begin before natural immunity wears off and to protect a baby from all vaccine-preventable illnesses.
2. Which vaccine is given soon after birth?
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The CDC recommends this 3-dose vaccine be given at birth. Then a second dose at age 1 to 2 months, and the third dose between 6 and 18 months. This vaccine is
especially important for babies who spend time in daycare centers or if the mother is hepatitis B positive, in which case the newborn is given both hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine.
3. Bacterial
meningitis strikes babies more often than any other age group. Which vaccine
will help prevent one previously common type of meningitis?
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Hib vaccine prevents Haemophilus influenzae, type B infections, which can cause meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis. The number of Hib meningitis cases have dropped dramatically since the vaccine was introduced. A meningococcal meningitis vaccine is also available, starting at age 11 or 12, to protect against another kind of meningitis.
4. What
type of reaction commonly occurs after the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine?
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About 1 in 4 children will have swelling or soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever. High fever, continual crying, or limp, listless behavior is rare. Any of these is a sign of severe reaction that warrants a call to 911 or the healthcare provider.
5. When
should a baby not be given a DTaP vaccine?
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A baby should not get this vaccine if the child had a serious allergic reaction or encephalopathy after a vaccine given earlier. A
mild illness, such as a cold with or without fever, shouldn't prevent
immunization.
6. In the
combined DTP vaccine used in the past, which of the 3 vaccine components reportedly caused severe reactions?
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Today,
the pertussis vaccine is acellular. This means the entire bacteria cell is not present. The vaccine is denoted as DTaP, a
much safer form with minimal side effects.
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