This cue card lists the various immunizations for infants and explains why they are important.

This one-page document contains basic facts about vaccines.

Flu is a disease of the body’s breathing system, including the nose, throat and lungs. Flu is short for “influenza.” H1N1 flu is caused by a new virus that was first recognized in April of 2009, and was called “swine flu.” H1N1 flu quickly spread to many parts of the world and is now a “pandemic,” or global outbreak. H1N1 flu is not the same as swine flu, which is a virus that pigs can get. It is not the same as “seasonal” flu which occurs every year, during the winter and early spring.

Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease. It is caused by the influenza virus, which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions. Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for influenza. But only an illness caused by the influenza virus is really influenza. Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among children. For most people, it lasts only a few days. It can cause:

Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcuspneumoniae bacteria. Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but some people are at greater risk than others: People 65 years and older The very young People with certain health problems People with a weakened immune system Smokers Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the:

There are about 40 types of HPV. HPV is spread through sexual contact. Most HPV infections don’t cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. But HPV is important mainly because it can cause cervical cancer in women.  It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women. It can also cause genital warts and warts in the upper respiratory tract. More than 50% of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at sometime in their lives.

Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine can protect adolescents and adults against three serious diseases. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are all caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts, scratches, or wounds. TETANUS (Lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in up to 2 cases out of 10.

This publication is a reference for logistics advisors as they face the challenge of designing and supporting programs to improve injection safety and injection waste management. The reader will find useful information and tools, as well as discussions of important issues, including those related to commodity security for safe injection devices (i.e., injection device security) and the development of a safe injection and waste management policy.

Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause serious illness and death. Invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for about 200 deaths each year among children under 5 years old. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain. Pneumococcal infection causes severe disease in children under five years old. It can also lead to other health problems, including: pneumonia, deafness, brain damage Children under 2 years old are at highest risk for serious disease.

Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child’s (or adult’s) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). It can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious disease caused by a bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years old. Your child can get Hib disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. If the germs stay in the child’s nose and throat, the child probably will not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then Hib can cause serious problems.