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Keeping You Healthy
Find a doctor to stay on schedule with recommended and required vaccinations for yourself and your family.
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Vaccinations For Children
Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect yourself, your children, and your community from certain viruses. Childhood vaccinations help support long-term health and prevent up to 3 million fatalities worldwide each year from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines help strengthen your child’s immune system against harmful diseases while also reducing the spread of illness to others. They work by training the immune system to produce antibodies that fight infection, which is much safer than developing the disease itself. Once the immune system learns how to respond, it can provide long-term protection. Immunizations remain a proven and effective way to prevent and control many serious illnesses.
Immunization and Vaccination Schedule for Children
A vaccination schedule outlines when babies and children should receive recommended vaccines to help protect against serious illnesses and build immunity. Vaccinations begin shortly after birth and continue throughout childhood to protect against diseases such as Hepatitis B, whooping cough, measles, mumps, and rubella. Children should also receive an annual flu vaccine starting at six months old.
It’s important to know that the state of Illinois requires that children receive certain immunizations in order to enter a Child Care Facility or School. The requirements are different depending on your child’s age. We provide required immunizations and help track your child’s schedule to keep vaccinations up to date.
Your provider might suggest additional immunizations that protect your child from preventable diseases and some cancers. These vaccines are not required, but they are still important.
What Should I Do If My Child Is Behind on Their Vaccination Schedule?
If your child is missing vaccinations, scheduling an appointment with their pediatrician is an important first step. During the visit, the doctor can review your child’s immunization record, identify any overdue vaccines, and recommend a catch-up schedule.
In many cases, children can receive multiple vaccines during the same appointment. Because some vaccines must be given at specific intervals over time, additional visits may be needed to fully catch up on the recommended vaccine schedule.
How To Access Your Vaccination Record
There are two easy ways to access a full record of the vaccinations your child has received:
- VNA MyChart: Current VNA patients can conveniently view their vaccination records at any time directly through their MyChart account.
- IDPH Vax Verify Portal: You can also access state vaccination records by registering and logging in through the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify portal.
Vaccines for Adults
Immunizations are not just for children. Protection from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable disease due to your age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions.
All adults need immunizations to help prevent them from contracting and spreading serious diseases that could result in poor health, missed work, medical bills, and not being able to care for family.
Recommended Vaccinations For All Adults
- Adults should receive a flu vaccine every year, especially older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions.
- Adults should get one Tdap vaccine if they did not receive it as adolescents, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years. Pregnant women should receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks.
- Adults age 50 and older should receive two doses of the Shingrix vaccine to help prevent shingles. Adults 19 and older with weakened immune systems are also recommended to receive the vaccine.
- Visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website to learn what other vaccines you may need as an adult depending on your circumstances.
Yes, students enrolling in Illinois schools and child care facilities must meet minimum immunization requirements. In order to enroll, they must submit documentation of the required immunizations. The requirements apply to public and private schools and child care facilities. We provide required immunizations and help track your child’s schedule to keep vaccinations up to date.
Yes, childhood vaccines are safe. Before any vaccine is approved for children, it goes through years of careful testing by medical experts to make sure it is both safe and effective. While your child might experience minor side effects—such as a low fever or a sore spot where the shot was given—these usually go away in a day or two. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Getting vaccinated is the safest, most proven way to build your child’s immune system and protect them from dangerous diseases.
It depends on the specific vaccine. Some vaccines, like the ones for measles or polio, usually provide lifelong protection after your child finishes the recommended doses. However, other vaccines can gradually wear off over time. For example, the vaccine that protects against tetanus and whooping cough requires “booster” shots as your child gets older to keep their immunity strong. Viruses like the flu also change every year, requiring an annual updated shot. Your VNA pediatric team will track your child’s records and let you know exactly when they need a booster to stay fully protected.
If you received your standard vaccines as a child, you likely still have protection against many diseases. However, because some immunity fades, adults should get a tetanus booster every 10 years, along with yearly flu shots. If you are unsure about your vaccination history or if you missed any shots growing up, your VNA primary care provider can help.