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Tetanus isn’t something most of us think about until we step on a rusty nail. But the truth is a little scarier than that old wives’ tale suggests. Tetanus comes from bacteria in soil and dust, and it gets into the body through cuts, scrapes, even splinters. Once inside, it releases a toxin that causes painful muscle stiffness and spasms,

Wait, rabies has a vaccine for people Yes, and it’s probably not one your pediatrician has ever brought up. That’s because the rabies vaccine isn’t part of the standard childhood schedule. It’s not like the shots your baby gets at their two month checkup. This one is reserved for specific situations, and most families will never need it at all.

What PPSV23 actually is You might remember this one from an older label, Pneumo 23. These days doctors just call it PPSV23, short for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. It protects against a bacteria called pneumococcus, which can cause pneumonia, ear infections, and in worse cases, meningitis or blood infections. Here’s the part that trips a lot of parents up. PPSV23 is

If you remember hearing your pediatrician mention “Pneumo 7,” that name is old news now. The original 7 valent pneumococcal vaccine hasn’t been used in the United States since around 2010. Kids today get a newer, more protective version, and it’s still one of the routine shots on the standard childhood schedule. The vaccine has changed a lot since Pneumo

Is there actually a plague vaccine your kid could get Short answer, no. Not right now, not in the US anyway. If you came here worried about scheduling a plague shot for your family, you can relax on that front. There isn’t one to schedule. The plague vaccine used to exist here, but it’s not available anymore. The CDC says

What The MMR Shot Actually Covers MMR stands for measles, mumps, and rubella, three diseases that used to send a lot of kids to the hospital before the vaccine came along. Measles is the one getting the most attention lately, and for good reason. Cases have been climbing again, with the CDC tracking over 3,000 confirmed infections in 2026 alone,