As a family medicine physician, I want to write this to give moms a concise guideline of what is recommended to keep you healthy for your families. The medical world can be difficult to navigate, so my goal is to give you a snapshot of what you need to do to make sure you are up to date! To be able to take care of your family, you’ve first got to take care of yourself!

Vaccines help protect babies and young children against 14 serious diseases before their 2nd birthday. Even though you are keeping her safe from diseases, it’s hard to see your child cry when she gets her shots. But you can take some steps before, during, and after a vaccine visit to ease the short-term pain and stress of getting shots. 

You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations? 

Although the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was approved for use in the US in 2006, the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows only 57% of females and 35% of males received at least 1 dose, with far less finishing the three dose series.  In fact, the HPV vaccine has the lowest completion rates of any vaccine in the United States, including vaccines that are recommended for the same age groups. In 2013, the Director of the CDC said achieving higher HPV vaccination rates was a top public health priority. Still, achieving higher rates has been a struggle.

Back in the 1970s, my daughter was in her third trimester and was expecting her first child.  She and her family were beyond excited for the new addition, and to start down the path of parenthood.

Cocooning. When I hear that word I instantly think of the 1980s movie Cocoon (click here to reminisce via the movie trailer).  

But in the immunization world, it has a whole new meaning. Cocooning is enveloping the most vulnerable members of our community in a circle of protection by making sure that everyone around them is immunized.

Early in May, I noticed a slight rash on the back of my leg. But considering I’d been working in the yard and it was on the back of my leg, I honestly didn’t pay much attention.

That is, until a couple of days later, when it woke me up at 2:00 a.m. with sharp, searing pain shooting through the nerves in my leg. Some time spent on the Internet left me pretty much convinced I had been bitten by a brown recluse spider and that I was probably going to have to have my leg amputated.

It’s that time of year to start signing kids up for summer camps and sports, which means it’s time to dust off the old shot record that is required for many of these activities.

If you’re anything like I am, that shot record may be buried in a pile somewhere in your home or office, and the thought of finding it makes you contemplate calling the doctor’s office, paying them $10 and driving to their office to pick up a copy – either that or just not signing your child up for the activity because acquiring shot records can be a royal pain.

Dr. Amanda Magrini shares why the Tdap vaccine is important for expecting mothers to receive in their third trimester of pregnancy.