Vaccination is Crucial to Your Baby. Learn Why!

An Overview of Vaccination

Since COVID-19 came into existence, we have all been running to the vaccination centres. Why? Because it saves you from the severity of the COVID-19 virus. 

Likewise, vaccinations given to your babies will protect them from many diseases present in the environment that can develop into full-blown complications if not controlled by a vaccine. 

About Vaccination

Vaccination is the process of giving vaccines to children. A vaccine is a weak form of a harmful germ that helps the immune system of a child's body defend against the disease caused by the deadly germ. 

The vaccine takes advantage of the natural human immune system in tackling the deadly forms of diseases in the environment and the world. 

What Types of Harmful Germs Are There?

• Viruses: Flu and COVID-19
• Bacteria: Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus

How is the Vaccination Carried Out?

Vaccines are administered to humans through injections, shots, liquids, pills, or nasal sprays. 

What are Antigens and Antibodies?

Antigens are a part of the virus's body, and antibodies are a part of the human body. 

Antibodies are formed in the human body when antigens enter the human system. 

What Do Vaccines Do in the Human Body?

Vaccines have a weak form of the virus's antigen. This antigen triggers the immune system's defence mechanism when it enters the human body. The immune system then forms antibodies to fight the virus. 

Who Qualifies for Vaccination?

Contraindications to Vaccination:

• Allergic to the previous dose of vaccine
• Allergic to neomycin, gelatin, eggs, streptomycin, and baker's yeast
• Severe combined immunodeficiency like HIV and acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Household members have HIV and congenital immunodeficiency diseases and are on high doses of systemic steroids
• Pregnancy

Why Is Vaccination Conducted?

Vaccination protects against significant diseases such as:

• Polio (which can lead to paralysis) 
• Mumps (which can lead to permanent deafness)
• Meningitis (which causes permanent deafness or brain damage)
• Measles (which leads to a swollen brain and blindness) 
• Tetanus (which gives rise to painful contractions of the muscles and difficulty breathing and eating in newborn babies) 

Get your baby vaccinated at the nearest vaccination centre.

Different Types of Vaccination

The vaccination chart includes the following diseases:

From birth to 15 months of age:

BCG

• First dose – At the time of birth

Hepatitis B

• First dose – At the time of birth
• Second dose – Between 1st and 2nd months of birth 
• Third dose – Between 6th and 15th months of birth

Rotavirus

• First dose – 2nd month
• Second dose – 4th month

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis

• First dose – 2nd month
• Second dose – 4th month
• Third dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth
• Fourth dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B

• First dose – 2nd month
• Second dose – 4th month
• Third dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

OR

• Fourth dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Inactivated Poliovirus

• First dose – 2nd month
• Second dose – 4th month
• Third dose – Between 6th and 15th months of birth

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

• First dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Varicella 

• First dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Hepatitis A

• First dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Pneumococcal Conjugate

• First dose – 2nd month
• Second dose – 4th month
• Third dose – 6th month
• Fourth dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth

Influenza 

• First dose – Between 6th and 15th months of the birth of the baby (annual vaccination)

From 18 months to 18 years of age

Hepatitis B

• Third dose – 18th month

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis

• Fourth dose – 18th month
• Fifth dose – Between 4 and 6 years of age

Inactivated Poliovirus

• Third dose – 18th month
• Fourth dose – Between 4 and 6 years of age

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

• Second dose – Between 4 and 6 years of age

Human Papillomavirus 

• Two-dose series – Between 9 and 14 years of age

0, 6, and 12 months, a minimum interval of 5 months

• Three-dose series – Between 15 years of age and older

0, 1, 2, and 6 months, a minimum interval of 5 months

Varicella

• Second dose – Between 4 and 6 years of age

Hepatitis A

• First dose – Between 12th and 15th months of birth
• Second dose – Within 6 months of the first dose, valid for up to 23 months.

Dengue

• Three-dose series – Between 9 and 16 years of age

0, 6, and 12 months

• Only applicable in seropositive endemic areas

Influenza 

• Annual vaccination – 1 or 2 doses – Between 18th months of birth and 8 years of age
• Annual vaccination – 1 dose only – Between 8 and 18 years of age

Benefits of Getting Your Baby Vaccinated

Check out these benefits: 

• It provides herd immunity and prevents the spread of disease from person to person.
• It eliminates the chances of complications from the diseases.
• The antibodies that arise from the vaccines in the baby's body strengthen their immune system against the severity of deadly diseases.
• The side effects of vaccines being harmful have never outweighed their benefits. 
• No evidence of vaccines being harmful has surfaced.

Complications of Vaccination

You must call your doctor immediately if your infant exhibits adverse reactions following a vaccine.

• Trouble breathing
• Trouble with swallowing
• Not moving 
• Very weak
• Cannot wake up from sleep
• You feel your baby needs immediate care
• Crying non-stop for 3 hours
• Fever above 104 degrees F
• Fever comes back after going once
• Irritability for more than 3 days

Request an appointment at Apollo Cradle, Amritsar - Abadi Court Road. Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.