After the
What to do if your child has discomfort
Shots...
I think my child has a fever. What should I do?
Check your child’s temperature to find out if there is a fever. An easy way
Your child may need extra love and care
to do this is by taking a temperature in the armpit using an electronic ther-
after getting vaccinated. Some vaccinations
mometer (or by using the method of temperature-taking your healthcare
that protect children from serious diseases
provider recommends). If your child has a temperature that your healthcare
also can cause discomfort for a while.
provider has told you to be concerned about or if you have questions, call
Here are answers to questions many parents
your healthcare provider.
have after their children have been vac
cinated. If this sheet doesn’t answer your
Here are some things you can do to help reduce fever:
questions, call your healthcare provider.
Give your child plenty to drink.
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Dress your child lightly. Do not cover or wrap your child tightly.
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Vaccinations may hurt a little . . .
Give your child a fever- or pain-reducing medicine such as acetamino-
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but disease can hurt a lot!
phen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). The dose you give
your child should be based on your child’s weight and your heathcare
provider’s instructions. See the dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin.
Recheck your child’s temperature after 1 hour. Call your healthcare
Call your healthcare provider right
provider if you have questions.
away if you answer “yes” to any of
the following questions:
My child has been fussy since getting vaccinated. What should
I do?
Does your child have a temper-
After vaccination, children may be fussy because of pain or fever. To reduce
ature that your healthcare
discomfort, you may want to give your child a medicine such as acetami n-
provider has told you to be
ophen or ibuprofen. See the dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin.
concerned about?
If your child is fussy for more than 24 hours, call your healthcare provider.
Is your child pale or limp?
Has your child been crying
My child’s leg or arm is swollen, hot, and red. What should I do?
for more than 3 hours and just
Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area for comfort.
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won’t quit?
For pain, give a medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. See the
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Is your child’s body shaking,
dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin.
twitching, or jerking?
If the redness or tenderness increases after 24 hours, call your healthcare
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Is your child very noticeably
provider.
less active or responsive?
My child seems really sick. Should I call my healthcare provider?
If you are worried at all about how your child looks or feels, call your health-
care provider!
Please see page 2 for information on the
healthcare provider: please fill in the information below.
[
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proper amount of medicine to give your
child to reduce pain or fever.
If your child’s temperature is
°F or
°C or higher,
or if you have questions, call your healthcare provider.
Healthcare provider phone number:
immunization
I
A
C
action coalition
Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
651 - 647 - 9009
Saint Paul, Minnesota
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Item #P4015 (7/14)
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