Vaccination for children: What you need to know

Routine vaccinations for babies and children is a normal practice. As soon as the baby is born, the parents are handed over a complete vaccination schedule with all the information about the types of vaccines and the diseases they protect against, along with the age at which these vaccinations are to be taken. It is very important that vaccination schedule be adhered to properly in order to protect your babies and children against various harmful, contagious diseases. All diseases we are advised to vaccinate against are considered serious that can cause severe health conditions, sometimes leading to death.

Vaccinations start from as early as the birth of the child, acting as a shield that can protect your children from dangerous diseases. Most of the vaccinations are injected through needles, but some are given as drops from the mouth. Once the vaccine enters the blood streams, they enable the body to make the right sort of antibodies to fight a particular disease. When a vaccinated person comes in contact with the infected person, the body’s natural defense mechanism — the immune system responds quickly to stop the disease from developing and reducing its impact. The process of both receiving a vaccine and developing immunity to the disease is called immunization. Generally, it takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for the immune system to respond fully.

In India, the Universal Immunization Programme recommends immunization against seven vaccine preventable diseases i.e. Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, severe form of childhood tuberculosis and Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae type B (hib) and diarrhea. Other important vaccinations for babies and children include Chickenpox, Mumps, Pneumococcal infection, Rotavirus, Typhoid and Rubella. Immunisation is a safe and effective way of protecting your babies and children from life threatening conditions, which are preventable. It is important for parents to recognize the importance of immunization. One of the most important health interventions available, immunization is the best health investment they can make for their babies and children.

For the best protection, immunization needs to occur on time, to prepare the body to fight serious infections at the right time. Your child needs several different vaccines to be fully protected, so it’s important to complete their childhood immunization programme. The Specialist Hospital immunization service is open to babies and children for all the scheduled vaccines. The service enables children to get routine vaccinations, advice and education regarding immunisation recommendations. Vaccines are given by highly trained and expert practitioners, keeping in mind the necessary precautions and safety measures. To know more about the Specialist Hospital immunization Service, kindly visit our website or call our helpdesk.