DISORDERS AFFECTING PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS

Immunity and Communicable Diseases

  1. Recommended schedule for active immunization of healthy infants and children.
  2. Assessment: common side effects of immunizations (occur 24-48 hours after immunization except as noted):
    1. Soreness, redness, tenderness, or lump at injection site.
    2. Fever: brief, mild to moderate.
    3. Crankiness and fussiness; anorexia; drowsiness.
    4. Measles-coryza and rash 7-10 days after immunization.
    5. Rubella-arthralgia and arthritis-like symptoms 2 weeks after immunization.
  3. Nursing interventions/home care for infant or child who has been immunized:
    1. Explain to parents the reason for each immunization and common side effects.
    2. Suggest acetaminophen for fever or discomfort.
    3. Extra affection and closeness-cuddling, soothing, rocking.
    4. Teach parents to notify MD of untoward, serious, or prolonged side effects.
  4. Contraindications/precautions to immunizations:
    1. Child who has a severe febrile illness (upper respiratory infection [URI], gastroenteritis, or any fever).
    2. Child with alteration in skin integrity: rash, eczema.
    3. Child with alteration in immune system; steroids; chemotherapy, radiation therapy; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (no live virus vaccine).
    4. Child with a known allergic reaction to previous immunization or substance in the immunization.
    5. Recent recipient of blood/blood products.
  5. Childhood communicable diseases. Basic principles of care:
    1. Standard precautions to prevent communicability/infection.
    2. Fever control with acetaminophen.
    3. Extra fluids for hydration.
    4. General home care procedures: comfort measures/ supportive care.

This schedule indicates the recommended ages for routine administration of currently licensed childhood vaccination as December 1, 2001, for children through age 18 years. Any does not given at the recommended age should be given at any subsequent visit when indicated and feasible. indicates age group that warrant special effort to administer those vaccines not previously given. Additional vaccines may be licensed and recommended during the year. Licensed combination vaccines may be used whenever any components of the combination are indicated and the vaccine's other components are not contraindicated. Providers should consult the manufacturers' package insertss for detailed recommendations.