Immunisations are given at your child’s well-child visits, following the schedule set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most vaccines fall in the first two years, which is why check-ups are closest together then.
Which vaccines does my child need, and when?
The childhood schedule is reviewed and updated every year, so rather than reproduce a table here that may go out of date, we work from the current CDC schedule at each visit and tell you exactly what is due. You can see the official parent-friendly version at the CDC immunisation schedules page.
If your child has missed doses or started the schedule in another country, they almost certainly do not need to start over. There are catch-up schedules for exactly this, and we will map out where your child is and what is still needed.
Florida school and daycare requirements
Florida schools, childcare facilities and family daycare homes document required immunisations on Form DH 680, the Florida Certification of Immunization — the form many parents know as the “blue card”. As an enrolled provider we can produce and certify it for you through Florida SHOTS, the state immunisation registry, so you do not need a separate trip to the county health department.
Requirements differ between daycare entry, kindergarten and 7th grade, so bring whatever paperwork the school or nursery has given you and we will make sure the right boxes are covered. If your child is mid-schedule, the form also has provision for a temporary exemption while the remaining doses are completed, so an incomplete record does not have to delay enrolment.
Do vaccines hurt, and what should I expect afterwards?
Most children have a sore arm or leg for a day or two, and some run a mild fever or are unusually sleepy or fussy. That is the immune system responding and it typically settles within 48 hours. Serious reactions are rare.
Practical things that genuinely help: feed infants during or straight after the injection, bring a favourite toy or comfort item, and be matter-of-fact rather than apologetic about it — children take their cue from you. For older children, telling them the truth briefly beforehand works better than a surprise.
Call us if your child has a fever above 104°F, cries inconsolably for more than three hours, seems very unwell, or has any swelling of the face or difficulty breathing. For breathing difficulty or face swelling, treat it as an emergency and go straight to the emergency room or call 911.
If you have questions or concerns about vaccines
Please ask. Dr. Narahari would far rather talk through a concern than have a child go unprotected, and no question is treated as a silly one. Bring whatever you have read and we will go through it together, including what the evidence actually shows and which risks are real.
Immunisations in MetroWest, Orlando
Primary Care Pediatrics is at 1507 S Hiawassee Rd, Suite 105, Orlando, FL 32835, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Call (407) 445-9224 to book a visit or to ask what your child is due. Bring your child’s immunisation record if they have been seen elsewhere.
