IMPORTANT: CHILDHOOD VACCINES
Diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) , smallpox can now be prevented by vaccination. It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs.
· You want to do what is best for your children. One of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations.
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Immunizations can save your child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction– primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines have had in the India. Polio was once India’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the India.
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Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
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Immunization protects others you care about. Children still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. While some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination, others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.
· Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or child care facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families.
Immunity Protects us From Disease
Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease.
Children are born with an immune system composed of cells, glands, organs, and
fluids located throughout the body. The immune system recognizes germs that
enter the body as “foreign invaders” (called antigens) and produces proteins called antibodies to fight them.
The first time a child is infected with a specific
antigen (say measles virus), the immune system produces antibodies designed to
fight it. This takes time . . . usually the immune system can’t work fast
enough to prevent the antigen from causing disease, so the child still gets
sick. However, the immune system “remembers” that antigen. If it ever enters
the body again, even after many years, the immune system can produce antibodies
fast enough to keep it from causing disease a second time. This protection is
called immunity.
It would be nice if there were a way to give children
immunity to a disease without their having to get sick first.
In fact there is:
Vaccines contain the same antigens (or parts of antigens)
that cause diseases. For example, measles vaccine contains measles virus. But
the antigens in vaccines are either killed, or weakened to the point that they
don’t cause disease. However, they are strong enough to make the
immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity. In other words, a vaccine is a safer substitute for a child’s first
exposure to a disease. The
child gets protection without having to get sick. Through vaccination, children
can develop immunity without suffering from the actual diseases that vaccines
prevent.
More Facts
· Newborn babies are immune to many
diseases because they have antibodies they got from their mothers. However,
this immunity goes away during the first year of life.
· If an unvaccinated child is
exposed to a disease germ, the child’s body may not be strong enough to fight
the disease. Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines
now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Those same germs exist
today, but because babies are protected by vaccines, we don’t see these
diseases nearly as often.
· Immunizing individual children
also helps to protect the health of our community, especially those people who
cannot be immunized (children who are too young to be vaccinated, or those who
can’t receive certain vaccines for medical reasons), and the small proportion
of people who don’t respond to a particular vaccine.
· Vaccine-preventable diseases have
a costly impact, resulting in doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, and premature
deaths. Sick children can also cause parents to lose time from work.
Immunization Schedule
· Immunization means
protection. The most effective and safe way to protect children from contagious
diseases is by vaccination. Vaccines are considered a breakthrough in
preventive medicine. Vaccines protect your child’s health by preventing them
from contracting severe contagious diseases. This schedule of recommended
immunizations may vary depending upon where you live, your child's health, the
type of vaccine, and the vaccines available. Some of the vaccines may be given
as part of a combination vaccine so that a child gets fewer shots. Talk with
your doctor about which vaccines your kids need.
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Birth
Birth
· HepB: Hepatitis B vaccine.
Ideally, the first dose is given within 24 hours of birth, but kids not
previously immunized can get it at any age. Some low birth weight infants will
get it at 1 month or when they're discharged from the hospital.
·
1–2 months
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HepB: Second dose should be given
1 to 2 months after the first dose.
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2 months
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DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and
acellular pertussis vaccine
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Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
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IPV: Inactivated poliovirus
vaccine
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PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine
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RV: Rotavirus vaccine
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4 months
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DTaP
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Hib
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IPV
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PCV
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RV
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6 months
·
DTaP
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Hib: This third dose may be needed, depending on the
brand of vaccine used in previous Hib immunizations.
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PCV
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RV: This third dose may be needed, depending on the
brand of vaccine used in previous RV immunizations.
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6 months and annually
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Influenza
(Flu): The flu vaccine is recommended every year for children 6
months and older:
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Kids younger than 9 who get the
flu vaccine for the first time (or who have only had one dose before July 2019)
will get it in 2 separate doses at least a month apart.
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Those younger than 9 who have had at least 2 doses of flu vaccine previously (in the same or different seasons) will only need 1 dose.
Those younger than 9 who have had at least 2 doses of flu vaccine previously (in the same or different seasons) will only need 1 dose.
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Kids older than 9 need only 1
dose.
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The vaccine is given by injection
with a needle (the flu shot) or by nasal spray. Both types of vaccine can be
used this flu season (2019–2020) because they seem to work equally well. Your
doctor will recommend which to use based on your child's age and general
health. The nasal spray is only for healthy people ages 2–49. People with weak
immune systems or some health conditions (such as asthma) and pregnant women
should not get the nasal spray vaccine.
·
6–18 months
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HepB
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IPV
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12–15 months
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Hib
· MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella
(German measles) vaccine
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PCV
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Chickenpox
(varicella)
·
12–23 months
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HepA: Hepatitis A vaccine; given
as 2 shots at least 6 months apart
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15–18 months
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DTaP
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4–6 years
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DTaP
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MMR
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IPV
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Varicella
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11–12 years
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HPV: Human papillomavirus
vaccine, given in 2 shots over a 6- to 12-month period. It can be given as
early as age 9. For teens and young adults (ages 15–26 in girls and boys both),
it is given in 3 shots over 6 months. It's recommended for both girls and boys
to prevent genital warts and some types of cancer.
· Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster. Also
recommended during each pregnancy a woman has.
· Meningococcal
conjugate vaccine: And a booster dose is recommended at age 16.
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16–18 years
· Meningococcal
B vaccine (MenB): The MenB vaccine may be given to kids and teens in 2 or 3 doses,
depending on the brand. Unlike the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which is
recommended, the decision to get the MenB vaccine is made by the teens, their
parents, and the doctor.
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Special circumstances
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HepA can be given as early as 6 months of age to
babies who will travel to a place where hepatitis A is common (they will still
need routine vaccination after their first birthday). It's also recommended for
older kids who did not get it in the past.
· The MMR vaccine can be given to babies as young as 6 months old
if they will be traveling internationally. These children should still get the
recommended routine doses at 12–15 months and 4–6 years of age, but can get the
second dose as early as 4 weeks after the first if they will still be traveling
and at risk.
· The flu vaccine is especially important for kids who are at risk
for health problems from the flu. High-risk groups include, but aren't limited
to, kids younger than 5 years old and those with chronic medical conditions,
such as asthma, heart problems, sickle cell
disease, diabetes, or HIV.
Pneumococcal
vaccines can be given to older kids
(age 2 and up) who have conditions that affect their immune systems, such as
asplenia or HIV infection, or other conditions, like a cochlear implant, chronic heart disease, or chronic lung disease.
· The meningococcal
vaccines can be given to kids as
young as 8 weeks old (depending on the vaccine brand) who are at risk for a meningococcal
infection, such as meningitis. This includes children with some immune disorders.
Kids who live in (or will travel to) countries where meningitis is common, or
where there is an outbreak, also should get the vaccine.
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· You should always call your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns or questions about their health.
DR NITIN GUPTA
Child Care Clinic and Vaccination Centre
BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN GAUR CITY,
DR NITIN GUPTA
Child Care Clinic and Vaccination Centre
BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN GAUR CITY,
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