- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus member of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to health information content on primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
He's a Fort Worth, Texas, native, certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Infant and toddler health (7)
- Flu shots for kids: Does my child need a flu shot?
- Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
- Baby sign language: A good idea?
- see all in Infant and toddler health
Newborn health (9)
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- Low milk supply: What causes it?
- Newborn sleep: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
- see all in Newborn health
Infant health (19)
- Baby walkers: Are they safe?
- Baby sunscreen: What's recommended?
- Starting solids: When is the right time?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (5)
- Toddler speech development: Are 2-year-olds understandable?
- Terrible twos: Why are 2-year-olds so difficult?
- Discolored baby teeth: A cause for concern?
- see all in Toddler health
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
I'm concerned about my newborn's vaccination schedule. Why do infants need so many vaccines so quickly?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Newborns need multiple vaccines because infectious diseases can cause more-serious problems in infants than in older children.
While maternal antibodies help protect newborns from many diseases, this immunity begins to disappear as quickly as one month after birth. In addition, children don't receive maternal immunity from certain diseases, such as whooping cough. If a child isn't vaccinated and is exposed to a disease, he or she might become sick and spread the illness.
Avoid altering your child's recommended vaccination schedule. Research shows that it's safe for infants and young children to receive multiple vaccines at the same time, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccination schedule.
Remember, newborns and young children can be exposed to diseases from family members, care providers and other close contacts, as well as during routine outings — such as trips to the grocery store. Many vaccines can be given even if your child has a mild illness, such as a cold, earache or mild fever. Consult your child's doctor regularly to keep your child's vaccination status up to date.
Next questionBaby sign language: A good idea?
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books; 2009:793.
- Jana LA, et al. Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. 2nd ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011:321.
- Destefano F, et al. Increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated with risk of autism. The Journal of Pediatrics. In press. Accessed May 15, 2013.
- Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 18 years -2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html. Accessed May 16, 2013.
- Why immunize? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/why.htm. Accessed May 16, 2013.
- Infant immunizations FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/parent-questions.html. Accessed May 16, 2013.
- Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine, et al. Increasing immunization coverage. Pediatrics. 2010;125:1295.
Find Mayo Clinic on