Baby vaccination is a critical topic for anyone who’s expecting. Vaccination is important, even though some vaccinations are optional – there are ones that are mandatory in India.
There is no doubt that vaccination is a boon for humanity. It helps save millions of lives and has kept critical medical conditions at bay. However, there is a catch with vaccination – they must be administered with a precise schedule. Vaccination does bring many questions, and the immunization schedule is one of them. In this article, we will talk everything about baby vaccination that you need to know.
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Contents
Things to Remember During Vaccination
What is Immunization?
It is a process of protecting from a certain disease. There are two ways to provide immunization – vaccination or naturally contracting a disease and then recovering from it. A vaccine when administered provides immunity against a disease. It can either be given through an injection or orally.
There are some vaccines which The Indian Government gives to everyone throughout the country in Immunization clinics.( BCG, Hepatitis B, OPV, IPV, DPT, Hib, Japanese Encephalitis, MR vaccine)
There are some which are yet to be implemented by The Government throughout the country but recommended by Indian Academy of Pediatrics as desirable vaccines for every child( Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccine, Typhoid vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Chicken pox vaccine, MMR vaccine, Flu vaccine).
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List of all Vaccines
- BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin)
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is used against tuberculosis. It also prevents TB meningitis in children. Just like other vaccines, BCG contains a live attenuated culture of the Tuberculosis causing bacterium. It is in a weakened form. This means the disease-causing power of the bacteria is removed, but the antigenic property helps in triggering the immune system to get ready.This help protect the child from serious Tuberculosis infection in the future, but not from some of the manifestations of the disease.
Dosage – One dose through injection at birth
- IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine)
IPV vaccine is administered to prevent polio in the child, and it is a mandatory vaccine for all babies. An inactivated wild strain of poliovirus is given to children which leads to the production of antibodies. It is typically given with the DTP vaccine.
Dosage – Four doses of polio vaccine (IPV) intramuscular injection, though presently Government gives two doses of intradermal injections
- OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine)
Oral Polio Vaccine is given orally (OPV). It is made up of an activated non-wild strain of the virus that produces antibodies within the body.
Dosage – Three doses of OPV
- Hepatitis A
It protects against the Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A virus causes viral hepatitis and liver failure in children.Since this is easily spread through water and food ,protection is much needed.
Dosage – Two or one doses (depending on the type of vaccine).
- Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine helps prevent liver diseases caused by the virus of the same name. The virus can cause liver diseases such as liver cancer, liver failure, and even death.
Dosage – Three or four doses of vaccine depending on schedule
Prevents baby against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (whooping cough). It is a mandatory vaccine.
Dosage – Three doses, followed by 2 booster doses
This baby vaccination protects children against rotavirus that can cause severe diarrhoea.
Dosage – Three or 2 doses of vaccine depending on the type.
- HiB (Hemophilus Influenza type B)
Protects children against a bacteria called Hemophilus influenza type B – that causes diseases like pneumonia, meningitis, and epiglottitis.
Dosage – Three doses and a booster dose
- PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
Prevents against bacteria that cause pneumonia of lungs, brain meningitis, infection of blood, and ear infections.
Dosage – Three doses and a booster dose.
It protects children against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Dosage – Two doses of vaccine
- TCV (Typhoid)
Prevents typhoid which is a very common infection in India
Dosage – One dose of the conjugate vaccine of every 3 yearly dose of polysaccharide vaccine.
Why is Vaccination Mandatory?
Vaccination is mandatory because it is the best available method to prevent a deadly disease. It may hurt mothers to see their newborn undergo pain and it surely can ache their heart – however, vaccination is of critical importance to the baby’s health. It’s also important for long term protection against several conditions with very high mortality and life long disability.
Things to Remember During Vaccination
- Always follow the recommended schedule and get your child vaccinated as due. Set up a reminder and try not to miss the date prescribed by the pediatrician.
- Communicate with the pediatrician and be informed about what to do in situations such as fever diarrhea and cough. Vaccinations are typically not administered if a child has temperature or
- After a dose of vaccine, your child may get a fever that can last for two days. If the fever doesn’t go in two days, see the pediatrician
- Involving a couple of family members during vaccination can help distract the child and make the process easier.
- Be informed about painless vs painful vaccine.
Conclusion
Vaccination is a boon and a marvel of medical sciences. It protects us from critical illnesses and increases life expectancy. Today, vaccination is mandatory across the world. If you are pregnant, it is essential to know all that you can about vaccination and its impact on your child. There are some optional vaccinations too that one should consider – especially in today’s world when infections are so prevalent.
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Disclaimer: This article is meant to help create awareness and spread knowledge. All decisions regarding your health and child’s health should be done after consultation with your doctor. Read my full disclosure here .while all efforts are made to keep articles updated the speed of research in these fields means the information often may change when more research knowledge is available. Healthwealthbridge or the authors should be in no way held responsible in that case.
