All About Vaccination: Schedule & General FAQs

Vaccinations/Immunizations are one of the best ways to protect against many serious diseases. Immunizations help build up your immune system to become stronger to fight off these diseases. The goal of any Immunization Program is to stop the spread of diseases that are vaccine preventable and thus prevent an epidemic.

What is Vaccination/Immunization?

Immunization (vaccination) is a way of creating immunity to certain diseases by using small amounts of weakened forms of pathogens (bacteria or virus) or killed/inactive forms of these pathogens that causes the particular disease. The material administered can also be a purified material such as proteins derived from a virus or bacteria. When you receive a vaccine, it helps your body to create antibodies. Antibodies are the body's defenses that fight off any foreign substances (germs).

At birth, infants have protection against certain diseases because antibodies have passed from the mother when the child is in the womb. Breast feeding continues those benefits for about a year. But in both cases, the protection is temporary. Hence getting your child immunized is something any parent can do to protect their children from dangerous diseases.

Which vaccines do kids need and what is the schedule for vaccination?

Most of the vaccines should be given within the first three years of birth. Here is a vaccination schedule as recommended by Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP):

Is it fine to give multiple vaccines at the same time?

Vaccines are as useful when combined with other vaccines as they are alone and carry no greater risk for harmful side effects.

Can my child be immunized if he/she is sick?

Simple colds or other minor illnesses should not prevent immunization. However, if anything is serious you need to inform your pediatrics.

Is there any side effect of immunization?

A lot of research and testing are done before any vaccine is approved for use. All vaccines are watched closely for safety during the entire time they remain in use. The vaccine may frequently cause mild side effects like: fever, mild crankiness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and tenderness, redness, or swelling in the area where the shot was given. Serious reactions are rare, but they can happen. If your child had an allergic reaction to a vaccine such as breathing problems, severe swelling of the skin or mouth; talk to your doctor before the next shot.

How to reduce the Pain of a shot?

To minimize the vaccination pain, use distractions like read a book to your child, play music or pretend to blow away the pain. Physically comfort your child by cuddling or holding their hands during the vaccination, and suggest deep breathing. Give your baby sugar water just before the shot, or nurse your baby while he gets the needle. You can also apply a local anesthetic that can be used to anesthetize the area before a shot or vaccine is given. You need to apply it to the part where the vaccine is given an hour before. However, consult a doctor before going through this process.

Parents should keep all records together and bring them to their children's doctor appointments. It is good to take time to make a good decision about vaccinating their child, but parents shouldn't hesitate too long as Prevention is always better than cure.