All You Wanted to Know About Immunization Schedule for Your Child!!!

Immunization forms one of the most important and cost effective strategies for the prevention of childhood sicknesses and disabilities and is thus a basic need for all children. Immunisation is the best way to ensure that your child is safe from diseases - it is a way to protect your child from serious illnesses. Immunisation can be done through vaccines either in form of injections or administered orally. Immunisation schedule may vary depending upon where you live, your child's health, the type of vaccine, and the vaccines available.

Here is what you need to know about the Immunisation schedule for your child.

1. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine (BCG): It is to be given at birth and protects against tuberculosis.

2. Oral Polio Vaccine(OPV): It is to be given at birth, at the age of 6 weeks, at 10 weeks, at 14 weeks, between 15 to 18 months and at 5 years. It protects against polio.

3. Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV): It is to be given at age of 6 weeks, at 10 weeks, at 14 weeks and between 15-18 months. It requires a total of four doses only and it protects from Polio.

4. Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus vaccine (DPT): It is to be given at age of 6 weeks, at 10 weeks, at 14 weeks, between 16-24 months and at 5 years. It protects against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. It may cause fever, pain and swelling at site and in rare cases irritability and convulsions.

5. Hemophilus Influenza B Vaccine (Hib): It is to be given at the age of 6 weeks, at 10weeks, at 14 weeks and between 15-18 months. It protects against meningitis, pneumania and septicaemia caused by the bacteria Hemophilus influenza B. It may cause slight pain and fever upon administration.

6. Hepatitis B Vaccine (Hep B): It can be given in any one out of the three schedules- at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age / at birth, 6 and 14 weeks of age/ at birth, 1 and 6 months of age. It protects against liver disease and liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B virus. It sometimes causes mild fever or pain upon administration.

7. Measles Vaccine: It is given at the age of 9 months. It protects against measles. It may cause mild fever and rash may appear after one week, but will be cured by itself.

8. Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine (MMR): It is to be given at age of 15 months. A second dose can be given at 5 years of age.It protects against measles, mumps and rubella. It may cause mild fever and rash may appear after one week, but will be cured by itself.

9. Typhoid Vaccine: It is to be given at age of 2 plus and repeated after every 3 years. It protects against Typhoid. It may cause mild fever upon administration.

10. Tetanus reduced dose diptheria (dT) / Tetanus toxoid (TT) Vaccine: It is to be given at age of 10 and 16 years. It protects against diphteria and tetanus. It may cause mild pain and fever.

Special Vaccines:

1. Chickenpox Vaccine: It is to be given at age of 1 year. This vaccine protects against chickenpox. It may cause mild rash and fever.

2. Pneumococcal Vaccine: It is to be given at age of 2, 4 and 6 months and 15-18 months. It protects against meningitis, pneumania and septicaemia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. It may cause pain, redness and fever upon administration.

3. Hepatitis A Vaccine: It is to be given in two doses 6 months apart, with the first dose given at the age of 18 months. It protects against Hepatitis A virus which can cause acute jaundice.

4. Rotavirus Vaccine: It is to be given in 2-3 doses at 4-8 weeks interval, starting before 6 weeks of age. It protects against diarrhoea caused by Rotavirus. It may cause some stomach discomfort upon administration.

Other special vaccines include influenza vaccine, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, Japanese B encephalitis, Pneumoccocal 23 valent and Rabies vaccines which can be given after consultation with your Paediatrician.