Rotavirus Vaccine for Children

Between feedings, naps, and well-child visits, the first few months can feel full of things to remember. Rotavirus vaccination is one item worth asking about early because there is a limited window for giving it.

At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we want parents to understand what is on their baby's vaccine record and why the timing matters.

Protecting Babies From Severe Diarrhea

Rotavirus can cause watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. For a baby, losing fluids can lead to dehydration serious enough to need hospital care. The vaccine helps protect against severe rotavirus illness and is given as drops in the mouth.

When Your Baby Needs It

The series has two or three doses, depending on the product. The first must be given before 15 weeks of age, and the series must finish by age 8 months. These age limits also apply when a dose is delayed. See the CDC rotavirus guidance for timing details.

If you are unsure whether a dose was missed, call rather than waiting for the next routine visit. Have any records from another office nearby so we can review the dates.

What to Discuss Before Vaccination

Tell the provider about immune problems, a previous bowel blockage called intussusception, or a severe vaccine allergy. Babies with severe combined immunodeficiency, previous intussusception, or a severe allergy to a dose or ingredient should not receive this vaccine.

What to Watch for Afterward

Temporary fussiness, vomiting, or diarrhea can occur. A small additional risk of intussusception is associated with vaccination. Severe crying with stomach pain, repeated vomiting, bloody stool, or unusual weakness needs urgent medical evaluation. The vaccine information statement explains these warning signs.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Rotavirus Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Hib Vaccine for Children

A vaccine record can look like a string of unfamiliar abbreviations. Hib is one parents often ask about during their baby's early visits. Knowing what that name stands for is a useful place to start.

What Hib Protection Means

Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, including meningitis, bloodstream infections, and dangerous throat swelling. Despite the similar name, Hib is not the seasonal flu virus. Young children are especially vulnerable, and severe infections can cause lasting problems such as hearing loss.

At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we welcome questions about each vaccine rather than expecting parents to memorize the whole list.

How the Doses Fit Into Early Visits

The Hib series contains three or four doses, depending on the product. It usually begins at 2 months and finishes at 12–15 months. Hib may be given alone or in a combination shot. The CDC Hib vaccine information describes the routine series.

If your child received vaccines somewhere else, bring those records. The product used and doses already given help determine the next step. Some older children with certain health conditions also need Hib protection.

Before and After the Appointment

Tell the provider about severe allergies or a serious reaction to an earlier dose. Moderate or severe illness may mean waiting until your child recovers.

Redness, warmth, swelling, or fever can occur after vaccination. Severe allergic reactions are rare, but breathing trouble or swelling of the face or throat needs emergency help. Call 911 for those symptoms. The CDC safety information covers reactions and precautions.

If the Schedule Feels Confusing

Ask which dose your child is receiving and when to return. Keeping that next date with your child's records can make future appointments easier to follow. If a visit was missed, we can review what was given before discussing what is still needed.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Hib Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children

“Pneumococcal” is a long name to find on a baby's vaccine list. You may also see the shorter abbreviation PCV. Both refer to protection against bacteria that can cause serious illness in young children.

Why This Vaccine Is Part of Childhood Care

Pneumococcal bacteria can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Young children face an increased risk, and some infections can leave lasting hearing loss or brain damage.

Understanding that purpose can make the vaccine list feel less like a checklist. At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we encourage parents to ask what each dose is for and how it fits their child's care.

When Children Receive PCV

The routine series includes four doses at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months. Some older children need additional protection based on their health and previous vaccinations. The CDC pneumococcal vaccine information explains how age and medical history guide the recommendation.

If you have changed providers or missed a visit, bring the records you have. Ask us to review the next dose with you rather than trying to piece the schedule together on your own.

What to Tell the Provider

Share any severe allergies, including a reaction to a previous PCV or a vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid. Also mention a current significant illness, which may affect timing.

What Parents May Notice Afterward

Soreness, swelling, fever, fussiness, and reduced appetite can occur. There is a small increased risk of fever-related seizures when PCV and an inactivated flu vaccine are given together. Severe allergic reactions are rare; call 911 for breathing trouble or facial or throat swelling. These risks are described in the vaccine information statement.

Before leaving the visit, ask which symptoms should prompt a call and whom to contact if a concern comes up later. There is no need to leave a question unasked.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Polio Vaccine for Children

For many parents, polio is something they have heard about from an older relative or read about in history. It is reasonable to wonder why children still receive a vaccine for a disease that feels far removed from daily life.

Why Polio Protection Still Matters

Poliovirus can damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis. Many infections have no symptoms, but severe illness can lead to permanent disability or death. Polio still occurs outside the United States, which is why maintaining protection remains important.

At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we want families to understand the reason behind a recommendation, including vaccines for illnesses they may never have seen.

Following the Childhood Schedule

Children usually receive four doses at 2 months, 4 months, 6–18 months, and 4–6 years. Polio protection may be given separately or in a combination shot, and it can be given with other vaccines. See the CDC polio vaccine guidance for routine timing.

When reviewing your child's record, ask which dose is being given and when the next one is due. If another office gave earlier vaccines, those records can help us work through the dates with you.

Before and After Vaccination

Tell the provider about life-threatening allergies or a severe reaction to a previous dose. Moderate or severe illness may require waiting until recovery.

A sore, red, or swollen injection site can occur. Severe allergic reactions are rare, but breathing trouble or swelling of the face or throat requires emergency help. Call 911 for those symptoms. The vaccine information statement explains reactions and precautions.

When a Visit Was Missed

A missing date on a vaccine record can be frustrating, especially after a move or a change of providers. Bring what you have and let us know where previous care took place. We can review the available information before discussing the next step.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Polio Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Hepatitis A Vaccine for Children

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are easy names to mix up when you are looking over a vaccine record. They are listed separately, and a question about one is a good reason to review both with your child's provider.

Understanding Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver infection that can spread through close contact or food, drinks, and objects contaminated with tiny amounts of stool from an infected person. Young children may have no symptoms while still passing the infection to others.

For parents, that means a child does not have to look sick for the infection to spread. Vaccination is part of routine childhood protection.

Two Doses, With Time Between Them

The first routine dose is given at 12–23 months, followed by a second at least six months later. Unvaccinated older children and teens also need protection. Some babies ages 6–11 months need a dose before international travel; it does not replace the two routine doses later. The CDC hepatitis A guidance covers these recommendations.

Tell us about upcoming travel when you schedule, even if departure is still months away. If you are unsure about a previous dose, bring the records you have so we can review them.

Questions About Reactions and Timing

Before vaccination, mention severe allergies, a serious reaction to an earlier dose, or a significant current illness. Soreness, fever, tiredness, headache, or reduced appetite can occur afterward. Severe allergic reactions are rare; call 911 for breathing trouble or facial or throat swelling.

If your child may have been exposed to hepatitis A, call promptly. Prevention after exposure is time-sensitive and may include vaccination within two weeks. The vaccine information statement explains safety and exposure guidance.

Keeping the Next Visit Simple

Because the doses are separated by several months, ask for the return date before leaving. Keep that information with your child's vaccine record so it is easy to find when you need it.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Chickenpox Vaccine for Children

You may remember chickenpox as an itchy week at home when you were young. When it appears on your child's vaccine record, it may be called varicella. Knowing both names makes that record a little easier to follow.

More Than an Itchy Rash

Chickenpox can cause fever and an itchy rash, but complications can include skin infections, pneumonia, and brain inflammation. Serious illness is possible, particularly in vulnerable people. Two vaccine doses protect most people against the disease.

At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we welcome conversations about how a familiar childhood illness fits into today's vaccine decisions.

When Children Receive the Vaccine

Routine doses are given at 12–15 months and 4–6 years. Older children without immunity may also need vaccination. Eligible children may receive varicella protection separately or with measles, mumps, and rubella protection in an MMRV shot. The CDC varicella guidance explains these options.

If your child has already had chickenpox, tell the provider and bring any available documentation. Reviewing both illness and vaccine history helps clarify what protection is still needed.

Health History Matters

Pregnant patients and people with serious immune problems should not receive varicella vaccine. Discuss severe allergies, recent blood products, aspirin use, and recent vaccines before the appointment.

What to Watch for After Vaccination

Soreness, fever, or a rash can occur; serious reactions are rare. If a rash develops, contact the provider about avoiding susceptible infants and people with weakened immune systems. Call 911 for breathing trouble or facial or throat swelling. The vaccine information statement provides more detail.

Before you leave, ask how to reach the clinic if a concern develops later. Describing what you see and when it started gives the provider a clearer picture than trying to decide on your own whether it is related to the shot.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Medical information and vaccine timing are based on the CDC Varicella Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Children

Parents have had a lot of changing information to sort through about COVID-19. If you are wondering whether your child needs another dose or how an earlier infection affects the decision, bring those questions to the visit. You do not have to work through them alone.

Starting With Your Child's Situation

COVID-19 can be mild, but some infections require hospital care. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of severe illness. Your child's age, health, previous doses, and household circumstances are useful starting points for a conversation about protection.

At Castle Valley Children's Clinic, we want that conversation to be understandable and specific to the questions your family has.

What the AAP Recommends

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccination for all children ages 6–23 months. For ages 2–18, it recommends protection for children at increased risk, including those with certain health conditions, no previous COVID vaccination, or high-risk household contacts. Vaccination should also be available to other children ages 2–18 whose parents want that protection.

The appropriate updated vaccine and number of doses depend on age, previous vaccination, and immune status. The AAP guidance for families explains these recommendations.

Bring Your Questions and Vaccine Record

Share the dates of earlier doses and any recent COVID illness. Vaccination may still be appropriate after infection, but a child with active COVID should recover before being vaccinated. Ask the provider about timing rather than choosing a date based only on an old reminder.

Discussing Side Effects and Precautions

Soreness, fever, and fatigue can occur. Myocarditis and pericarditis are rare reactions reported most often in adolescent and young adult males. Seek prompt care for chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heartbeat after vaccination.

Tell the provider about severe allergies, previous myocarditis or pericarditis, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The CDC vaccine information statement describes these safety considerations.

Let's Talk About Your Child's Vaccines

You do not need to arrive with every answer. Bring the records you have and the questions on your mind, whether they are about a missed visit, a previous reaction, or what comes next. We can talk through them together.

Contact Castle Valley Children's Clinic in New Castle or Carbondale to plan a visit, or explore our childhood vaccine information.

Sources and Further Reading

Recommendations follow AAP HealthyChildren.org. Disease and safety information draws on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement. Reviewed November 2, 2026.

Castle Valley Children’s Clinic Joins the Out of the Darkness Walk

Castle Valley Children’s Clinic is proud to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, September 19.

The Out of the Darkness Walk brings communities together to raise awareness about suicide prevention, support those affected by suicide and mental health challenges, and help create a culture where people feel comfortable reaching out for help.

As providers of both medical and behavioral healthcare for children and families throughout our community, this is a cause that is especially meaningful to the Castle Valley Children’s Clinic team.

We’re honored to walk alongside our friends, families and neighbors in support of hope, healing and suicide prevention.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
AFSP Western Slope Out of the Darkness Walk

Together, we can help bring mental health out of the darkness.

Castle Valley Children’s Clinic Proudly Sponsors the 2026 Burning Mountain Festival

Castle Valley Children’s Clinic is proud to sponsor the 2026 Burning Mountain Festival, taking place September 11 & 12 in New Castle, Colorado.

As a longtime part of the New Castle community, we believe healthy communities are built by bringing people together. The Burning Mountain Festival is one of those special local traditions that gives families, friends and neighbors an opportunity to get outside, have some fun and celebrate the community we all call home.

Two Days of Fun in New Castle

This year’s Burning Mountain Festival will take place at Burning Mountain Park on Main Street, with activities planned throughout Friday evening and Saturday.

Friday kicks off with food and craft vendors followed by the Citizen Awards, beer garden and an evening of live music.

Saturday starts bright and early with the Fire-in-the-Hole 5K, followed by the annual Burning Mountain Festival Parade down Main Street. Throughout the day, families can enjoy food and craft vendors, a Strider Race, pie-eating contest, log-splitting contest, community drummers and plenty of live music.

There’s something happening throughout the weekend, making it a great opportunity to spend a day together as a family and connect with the New Castle community.

Supporting the Community Our Families Call Home

At Castle Valley Children’s Clinic, caring for children goes beyond what happens inside our clinic.

Our team provides family-centered medical and behavioral healthcare for children and young adults throughout New Castle, Carbondale and the surrounding communities. We also believe in supporting the events, organizations and traditions that help make Western Colorado a great place for kids to grow up.

That’s why we’re excited to support this year’s Burning Mountain Festival.

We hope to see many of our patients, families, friends and neighbors enjoying the festivities on September 11 & 12.

2026 Burning Mountain Festival

When: Friday, September 11 & Saturday, September 12, 2026
Where: Burning Mountain Park & Main Street, New Castle, Colorado

Come out, enjoy the music, cheer on the parade, grab something good to eat and celebrate another year of the Burning Mountain Festival with the New Castle community.

Castle Valley Children’s Clinic is proud to be part of it!

Lead King Loop Run & Hike

Join Castle Valley Children's Clinic for the 2026 Lead King Run & Hike.

25K - 8 Mile - Kids Race

Experience the unforgettable adventure through stunning fall colors surrounded by wilderness in Marble, Colorado. Complete with delicious BBQ, cold beer, and happy tired legs.

Register at LeadKingLoop.com