Vaccinations: Safeguarding Your Child's Future Health and Well-being
As first-time parents hold their newborn, they feel a mix of emotions, from love to responsibility, and worry about their baby's safety in a risky world. Vaccines are an essential tool for keeping children healthy and preventing the spread of dangerous diseases. Vaccinations offer protection against dangerous diseases, allowing children to enjoy a healthy childhood without the fear of contracting serious illnesses like polio and measles.
Let's delve into the benefits and concerns of vaccinations.
What is a vaccine?
A substance that helps the body build immunity to a specific disease by mimicking the infection and stimulating the immune system to produce a response.
What is the mechanism of action of a vaccine?
Vaccines introduce antigens into the body, which prompt the immune system to produce antibodies that can recognize and neutralize the pathogen if the person is exposed to it in the future.
What is herd immunity?
When enough people in a population are vaccinated against a particular disease to make it unlikely that the disease will spread, protecting both individuals and entire communities.
Vaccines Protect Against Which Diseases?
Vaccine
Disease
Symptoms and effects
BCG
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that primarily affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs such as the brain in infants and young children. A severe case could result in life-threatening complications or even death. When TB is contracted, it is difficult to cure, and treatment can be lengthy and unsuccessful.
The hepatitis B virus is a threatening liver infection that can go unnoticed for decades if caught as an infant. Later in life, it can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Polio
Poliovirus
Polio is a virus that causes paralysis in one out of every 200 people who contract it. When their breathing muscles are paralyzed, 5 to 10% of those affected die. Once paralysis has set in, there is no cure for polio; only treatments to relieve the symptoms are available.
DTP
Diphtheria
Diphtheria infects the throat and tonsils, making breathing and swallowing difficult for children. Severe cases can result in damage to the heart, kidneys, and/or nerves.
DTP
Tetanus
Tetanus causes muscle contractions that are extremely painful. It can make it difficult for children to open their mouths, swallow (breastfeed), or breathe because their neck and jaw muscles lock (lockjaw). Tetanus can be fatal even with treatment.
DTP
Pertussis
Coughing spells from pertussis (whooping cough) can last for weeks. It can cause breathing problems, pneumonia, and even death in some cases.
Hib
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hib is a bacterial infection that almost solely affects children under the age of five, causing pneumonia, meningitis, and other serious infections.
Pneumococcal
Pneumococcal diseases
Pneumococcal diseases vary from life-threatening meningitis and pneumonia to less serious but more common sinusitis and ear infections. Pneumococcal diseases are a common cause of illness and death in children under the age of two years old all over the world.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus
Rotaviruses cause severe diarrhea and vomiting in young children, which can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and stun.If treatment, particularly fluid replacement, is not started right away, this can result in death.
MMR
Measles
Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes fever, a runny nose, white patches in the back of the mouth, and a rash. Blindness, brain swelling, and death are all possible outcomes in severe cases.
MMR
Mumps
Mumps can cause swollen salivary glands, headaches, lethargy, and fever. Meningitis, swollen testicles, and deafness are all possible complications.
MMR
Rubella
Rubella infection is usually mild in children and adults, but it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, and birth defects in pregnant women.
HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV causes no symptoms in most people, but some strains can lead to cervical cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer in women. HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer (99%). In both men and women, HPV can cause genital warts, as well as cancer in other parts of the body.
Vaccination schedule?
A calendar to remind you of your child's vaccine schedule -
Age
Vaccine
Optional Vaccine
At birth
BCG Dose 1 (tuberculosis vaccine)
OPV (oral polio vaccine) Dose 0
Hep B (hepatitis B Vaccine) Dose 1
6-8 weeks
DTaP/DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) Dose 1
PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine) Dose 1
Rotavirus Dose 1
IPV (Injectable Polio Vaccine) Dose 1
Hep B (Hepatitis B Vaccine) Dose 2
10-16 weeks
DTaP/DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) Dose 2
PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) Dose 2
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine) Dose 2
Rotavirus Dose 2
IPV (Injectable Polio Vaccine) Dose 1
14-24 weeks
DTaP/DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) Dose 3
PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) Dose 3
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine) Dose 3
Rotavirus Dose 3
IPV (Injectable Polio Vaccine) Dose 3
6 Months
OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) Dose 2
Hep B (hepatitis B vaccine) Dose 3
9 Months
OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) Dose 2
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine) Dose 1
9-12 Months
Typhoid CV (typhoid conjugate vaccine) Dose 1
12 Months
Hep A (Hepatitis A inactivated vaccine) Dose 1
15 Months
PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) Booster
Chickenpox Dose 1
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine) Dose 2
16-18 Months
IPV (Injectable, Polio Vaccine) Booster
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine) Booster
DTaP/DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) Booster
18 Months
Hep A (Hepatitis A Inactivated vaccine ) Dose 2
2 Years
Typhoid Booster
4-6 Years
OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) Dose 3
Chickenpox Dose 2
Typhoid Booster
DTaP/DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) Booster
Getting your baby vaccinated is a responsible and necessary part of being a parent. Vaccination is a critical investment in your baby's health and future. It is a gift of protection you can give to your baby.
Get expert medical advice from our team of experienced pediatricians within 15 minutes or emergency-consultation for your child's health and development. Sign up for Babynama's care plans today to get unlimited access to chat with a pediatrician directly on WhatsApp to get answers to your child's health-related queries and the best possible care. Babynama's aim is to provide fast, reliable, and quality healthcare support to parents. Be a part of Babynama today!
Children's Vaccines - Answers To Your All Questions
As a parent, ensuring the health and safety of your newborn is of utmost importance. One crucial way to protect your baby from life-threatening illnesses is through vaccines.
Parents often have questions and concerns about vaccines, and it's essential to address them to make informed decisions about their child's health. In this article, we'll provide answers to some common questions regarding children's vaccines.
Vaccines: Are They Safe?
Vaccinations are extremely safe. A vaccine-preventable disease is far more likely to harm your child than a vaccine. Before being approved for use by the general public, all vaccines undergo extensive safety testing, including clinical trials. Only vaccines that meet strict quality and safety standards will be registered and distributed by countries.
What are the mandatory vaccines for newborns in India?
Oral polio vaccine, typhoid, measles, mumps, pneumonia, smallpox, and diphtheria vaccines are all considered necessary for babies in India. Additional vaccines for cholera, rabies, yellow fever, and influenza may be required depending on your baby's health and external factors.
Why should I get my child vaccinated?
Vaccines help people live longer and healthier lives. Between 2000 and 2017, it is estimated that measles vaccines alone prevented over 21 million deaths.
Vaccines protect your child from diseases that can cause significant morbidity and mortality, especially in people with developing immune systems, like infants.
Vaccinating your child is extremely important. If not, diseases like measles, diphtheria, and polio, which were once completely eliminated in many countries, will arise.
Why Do Healthy Children Need Immunizations?
Vaccines are designed to keep healthy children healthy. Vaccines protect the body before disease attacks, so if you wait until your child becomes ill, the vaccine will be ineffective. When children are healthy, they respond best to immunizations.
Will my baby be able to handle all of these shots?
Yes. Many parents are concerned that their child's immune system will be overloaded by multiple vaccines. Every day, however, children are exposed to hundreds of germs. A common cold or sore throat, in fact, will put a greater strain on your child's immune system than vaccinations.
Why should my child undergo a painful injection if vaccines aren't 100% effective?
In medicine, very few things work 100 percent of the time. Vaccines, on the other hand, are one of our most powerful weapons against disease, working in more than 85% of cases. They greatly reduce your child's risk of serious illness (especially as more people become vaccinated) and make diseases less likely to spread in a population.
It's difficult to watch your child get a shot, but the pain is nothing compared to a potentially fatal case of diphtheria, strep throat, or measles.
These diseases, however, do not exist in my neighborhood. Is it still necessary for me to vaccinate my child?
Yes. Although the diseases may have been totally eliminated in your country or region, our increasingly interconnected life means that they may spread from areas where they remain.
Is it necessary to restart my child's vaccination schedule if he or she misses one?
You are not required to begin the entire procedure. Rather, include the vaccine that was missed in the upcoming schedule. However, before making any changes or additions to your vaccination schedule, you should consult your doctor.
Vaccines are extremely safe, with only a small number of serious side effects. Almost all post-vaccination sickness or discomfort is minor and transient, such as pain and swelling at the injection site or a mild fever. Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed by a doctor, or apply a cold cloth to the injection site to relieve the pain. If parents are concerned, they should consult a doctor or other health care provider.
Is it possible that vaccines cause autism?
There is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism, according to extensive studies and research.
Is it possible to postpone the vaccinations?
Following your country's recommended vaccine schedule is one of the best ways to protect your child. Any time you put off getting a vaccine, you're increasing your child's risk of contracting a disease.
Is it okay if I let my child get chickenpox instead of getting vaccinated?
Even though chickenpox is a mild disease that many parents remember from their childhood (the vaccine was introduced in 1995), some children will develop severe cases with complications that can be fatal or result in permanent disabilities. The vaccine reduces the risk of disease complications and prevents children from spreading the disease to their siblings, relatives, and peers.
What is the vaccine schedule that is recommended?
Vaccination schedules differ by country, depending on which diseases are the most common. Your local health center, doctor, or the Ministry of Health can provide you with a list of recommended vaccines and approximate dates.
When should my child not be vaccinated?
Make sure your child doesn't have a fever before getting immunized. It's also not a good idea to get her vaccinated if she has an allergic reaction or has recently recovered from another illness because her immune system is still compromised. Also, if your child had a negative reaction to a previous immunization, make sure to notify her doctor right away.
Swaddling immediately following the shot You can also cuddle (wrap a baby tightly in a blanket like a "burrito") your baby before the vaccination, but leave his or her legs exposed for the vaccination.
Swinging her in your arms or an infant swing, making shushing sounds in her ear, placing her on her side or stomach, allowing her to suck (whether through breastfeeding, a bottle, or a pacifier).
Apply gentle pressure and rub the skin around the injection site before and after the shot is given, which may help to alleviate the pain in the area.
For older or active babies-
Swaddling or shushing an older baby or toddler may not be effective.
Allow your child to sit on your lap and distract her with a toy, book, or song during the shot.
Make an effort not to appear upset or concerned. Children can sense their parents' anxiety and become anxious themselves.
If your child experiences pain at the injection site or develops a fever and becomes ill, communicate to his or her doctor about taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain.
Also, remember to compliment your child afterward. A little positive feedback can make your next doctor's appointment go more smoothly.
After the appointment, try to do something enjoyable. A visit to the park or playground can lighten up the day's memories.
The Takeaway
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect children against serious illnesses. It is important for parents to educate themselves on the benefits of vaccines and to consult with their healthcare provider to ensure their child receives the recommended vaccinations on schedule.
Get expert medical advice from our team of experienced pediatricians within 15 minutes or emergency-consultation for your child's health and development. Sign up for Babynama's care plans today to get unlimited access to chat with a pediatrician directly on WhatsApp to get answers to your child's health-related queries and the best possible care. Babynama's aim is to provide fast, reliable, and quality healthcare support to parents. Be a part of Babynama today!
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