Your guide to children's vaccinations

Whether a child is starting preschool or shuttling off to college, it’s important to put immunizations at the top of their health to-do list. Vaccines not only protect individuals from infectious diseases like measles and mumps, they also help keep families, schools, and communities healthy. Even children who are too young to be immunized, have medical conditions that make vaccinations unsafe, or don't respond well to certain vaccines are better protected if kids around them have immunity.

Though immunization policies and requirements may vary by state or school district, there are several must-have immunizations for most children. Though vaccines are widely considered to be safe and effective, some may cause mild, temporary side effects, such as injection-site tenderness, headaches, tiredness, or low fever.

Allergic reactions are rare, but possible. Any child who exhibits trouble breathing, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, or low blood pressure should be checked immediately by a healthcare provider (HCP). Vaccines should not be given to kids with a known allergy to any ingredient or to those who have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose.

Read on for a detailed look at each essential vaccine.