thanks a lot.

in US, gnraly all these is covered by your insurance company ??
no idea about india.
also, when it comes to vaccines, even though not compulsory, be safe side..

when illness strikes, jst for the $$$ you are saving right now, you will end up spending double the amounts in the recovering,,goin to emergency and baby will suffer longer !!! not to mention that goin thru the trauma of seeing your baby suffer before your eyes is more painful than the most expensive $$$,,
talk to your insurance company if in US..change if necessary..wonderful discounts are available in different plans.
good luck

words by Dr. Ned Calonge, "Fortunately, there is good medical evidence that partial immunization with at least two doses of pneumococcal vaccine provides children with significant protection from invasive disease,"
He explained that, with this evidence, he is recommending to the Colorado health care community that Colorado infants and toddlers receive only a portion of the pneumococcal immunizations that are recommended so that partial vaccination will be available for the majority of healthy children and vaccine will be available to the state's high-risk children under the age of five years.

Calonge said that, rather than the four doses of pneumococcal vaccine recommended for children who begin the immunizations before the age of six months, healthy children under six months of age should receive two doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at a two-month interval, with the third and fourth doses deferred. Children from seven to 11 months of age when they receive their first immunization also should receive a total of two doses at a two-month interval, deferring the third dose. Because of the vaccine shortage, pneumococcal immunizations should not be given at this time to healthy children older than 24 months of age, Calonge said.

The high-risk children, who should receive all four recommended pneumococcal immunizations, are those who are suffering from chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia; cardiac and pulmonary disease; diabetes; immune deficiencies; those who are undergoing chemotherapy; or those who have undergone organ transplants.

The vaccine is designed to protect children from pneumonia and bacterial meningitis.

Calonge said the shortage of pneumococcal vaccine is expected to continue at least until the last quarter of 2002 or perhaps longer.

He urged that the state's health care providers maintain a list of children who are not able to receive the recommended four doses of pneumococcal vaccine so that they can receive the full vaccinations when a more adequate supply of the vaccine become available.

Also still in effect is the State Board of Health's April 2001 suspension of the requirement that Colorado children receive the fourth and fifth doses of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine before they enter school. Available DTaP vaccine is being used to provide the initial three vaccinations of DTaP to children from two to six months of age.

The acting chief medical officer explained that the shortage of that vaccine also continues across the country.

Despite the temporary suspension of the pneumococcal and DTaP requirements, Colorado children still must have completed several immunizations required for their age groups before they can return to school or can be enrolled in preschool or school for the first time. The immunizations also are required for enrollment at a child care center, beginning at two months of age.

The continuing requirements include:

Chickenpox (Varicella): The requirement for this vaccine, which first became mandatory in Colorado on July 1, 2000, is being gradually phased in although health officials recommend it be administered to all children and youth up to the age of 18 who have not had the disease. However, one immunization for chickenpox currently is required for children 18 months to four years of age for entrance into preschool and for entrance into kindergarten and first grade. Proof from a parent, guardian or health care provider that the child already has had the disease may be substituted for the immunization.

Hepatitis B: A total of three doses of this vaccine over the life of the child are required for preschool, kindergarten and for the first, second, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh grades.

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB): One, two or three doses of this vaccine are required depending on both the child's current age and the age when the HIB was administered. This vaccine is a preschool requirement for children five years of age or younger but is not required for older children.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR): Two doses of this vaccine are required for kindergarten and the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. One dose is required for other grades.

Polio: Three doses of this vaccine are required for children entering preschool. Grade school, middle school and high school students entering a Colorado school for the first time are required to have four doses of this vaccine. However, if the third dose was administered on or after the child's fourth birthday, only three doses are required.

Dr. Ned Calonge is the state's acting chief medical officer and state epidemiologist who is based at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Hi Hetal,

thanks for your reply, I am based out of bangalore, india. We do not have insurance covered in india for vaccines. Well it is under debate in india as it is on the exp whether to recommend or not recommend. there are couple of ped who are not recommending this medicne.

Hence, was enquiring which are the mandatory vaccines.

Thanks