As a parent, you will protect your baby from all preventable diseases. Isn’t that right? One way to do it is by providing or ensuring that your child gets proper vaccines and immunizations, enabling the child’s immune system to fight off viral & bacterial infections & diseases.
We all know how vital immunizations and vaccinations are for children. Getting your children vaccinated early safeguards their health and contributes to the community's overall well-being. Childhood vaccines are engineered to prevent problems and illnesses that can have severe consequences or even be life-threatening for young children.
Keeping a note to remember that vaccines have undergone extensive research, testing, and rigorous safety steps before being approved for children. Nowadays, mothers prefer painless vaccinations for their newborns. Doctors recommend vaccinations at a time when kids are healthy & not suffering from any illness.
This blog post will explore the significance of immunization and vaccination for children and why it should be known to every parent.
So, let's get started.
What Are Vaccines and Immunization?
But before we plunge ourselves into the importance of immunization & vaccination, let’s state the exact definition and difference between the two and clear away all the doubts regarding it.
Vaccines are scientifically created substances that stimulate the immune system effectively and protect the body from pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. Most vaccines are typically administered through injections, although some may be given orally or nasally.
The primary purpose of vaccines is to activate an immune system in the body without causing harmful disease. As the vaccine is injected into the body, it stimulates the immune system to recognize and produce a defence mechanism against the specific pathogen or its toxins. This response involves the production of antibodies, specialized proteins that can identify and neutralize the pathogen.
Vaccines also trigger immune cells called memory cells, which help recognize the specific pathogen, enabling a solid and fast immune response. These memory cells help vaccines provide sustainable protection from disease-causing pathogens to the child.
Why Early Immunization for Your New Born?
Early immunization for your newborn is essential because it helps protect your baby from severe and even life-threatening diseases. Newborns' immune systems are underdeveloped. By providing babies with the antibodies they need to fight infections and illnesses through early immunization, you help protect their health and well-being.
Importance & Benefits of Early Immunisation for Your New Born?
Many diseases that can be prevented by vaccination are highly contagious and can spread quickly in communities. It is essential for several reasons:-
1. Vulnerability to Diseases:
Every newborn has an immature immune system and is exposed to infections and diseases. Immunising at an early stage can help them protect themselves during this vulnerable period of contracting many serious illnesses.
2. Timely Immune Response:
Providing Immunisation at the suggested ages ensures that their immune system can build a trigger to diseases they might face. By introducing vaccination early, the immune system's functionality can mount the required defence and memory cells for pathogens.
3. Herd Immunity:
Immunisation at an early stage can contribute to herd immunity, which happens when a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, which eventually helps the baby's immune system with a shield within the community. This indirectly safeguards individuals who may be more vulnerable to diseases or cannot receive vaccinations for medical reasons.
4. Preventing Outbreaks:
Early immunization protects vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. If newborns are vaccinated, we can control the spread of diseases within communities and prevent outbreaks that can have severe consequences for other newborns and public health.
5. Long-Term Protection:
Diseases such as hepatitis B or human papillomavirus (HPV) can result in chronic infections and increase the risk of complications later in life. Immunization in infancy provides long-term protection against diseases. Vaccinating newborns early reduces their chances of encountering these infections and potential long-term health consequences.
How Do Vaccines Work? Is it Safe?
Yes, vaccines are considered safe and undergo rigorous testing before they are approved for use. They are designed to prevent diseases and protect public health.
The vaccine consists of substances for weakened or inactive parts of a particular organism (antigen) that triggers an immune response within the body. It stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight against specific pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria.
The vaccine also triggers the formation of memory cells, which retain information about the particular pathogen and offer prolonged protection by staying in the body following the initial immune response. Certain vaccines may necessitate multiple administrations spaced out over weeks or months. This is done to facilitate the generation of durable antibodies and the establishment of memory cells.
Types Of Baby Vaccines
Several types of vaccines are available for babies and young children to strengthen their immunity and protect them against various diseases. Here are some common types of baby vaccines:
1. Inactivated Vaccines:
Such vaccinations include an inactivated form of disease-causing microorganism. For eg, Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), the hepatitis A vaccine, and whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine.
2. Live Attenuated Vaccines:
These vaccines involve weakened live viruses or bacteria forms. They closely look like the disease-causing organism and reduce their virulence. Examples include the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine.
3. Toxoid Vaccines:
These vaccines contain inactivated toxins produced by bacteria. They stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against the toxin. Examples include diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines (DTaP, Tdap) and tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (DTaP, Tdap).
4. Combination Vaccines:
These vaccines combine multiple vaccines into a single shot, reducing the number of injections needed. They protect against multiple diseases simultaneously. Examples include the pentavalent vaccine (DTP-Hib-HepB), which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, and hepatitis B, and the MMRV vaccine protects from diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
5. Oral Vaccines:
Some vaccines are given orally rather than by injection into the body. For example, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and rota vaccine are administered as drops in the mouth.
What Diseases Do Vaccines Prevent?
Here are some of the diseases that vaccines safeguard from:-
Diphtheria
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenza
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Influenza (Flu)
Measles
Meningococcal disease
Mumps
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Streptococcus pneumoniae, (invasive pneumococcal disease)
Polio
Rotavirus
Rubella
Shingles (Herpes zoster)
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Chickenpox (Varicella)
When You Need to See Your Child’s Paediatrics
Paediatrics is a medical speciality focused on the healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents. It is essential to consult with a doctor or seek paediatric care in the following cases:
Feeding Difficulties & Breastfeeding Problems
Growth Assessment of Child
Routine Well-Child Visits
Childhood Illnesses
Loss Of Appetite
Developmental Concerns
Vaccinations
Chronic Conditions
Behavioural and Mental Health Concerns
Preventive Care
If you still have any uncertainties or concerns regarding your child's symptoms, we welcome you to visit our hospital. Our child-friendly environment and supportive staff are here to assist you. Our experienced paediatricians adopt a sweet and engaging approach when interacting with children.
Moreover, they closely monitor your child's physical and mental development milestones. This attentive observation lets us promptly identify and address potential developmental issues, ensuring early intervention and appropriate treatment.
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