Why Should You Vaccinate Your Child?

Immunizations or vaccines play a vital role in keeping your child safe from certain diseases. Over the years immunizations have saved millions of lives and prevented hundreds of millions of cases of disease. Your child will receive vaccines according to a schedule.

A vaccine is made of weakened or killed viruses or bacteria specific to the disease. Once inside the body, the vaccine helps your child's body recognize and fight these germs and protects it from getting the disease every time it comes into contact with them.

There are 9 typical vaccinations that your child will receive.
1.Hepatitis B
This vaccine protects your baby from this serious illness that may cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, tiredness, and pain in muscles, joints, and stomach. It can even cause jaundice(the skin and eyes turn yellow). It is possible that the child might not feel sick. Hepatitis B is spread by blood and body fluids from person to person. Three doses of the vaccine are given. The first dose is usually given in the hospital after birth. The second dose is given at 1 or 2 months of age, and the last shot at 6 months.

2.DTaP
This vaccine protects your baby from three diseases.
*Diphtheria-which causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. This can lead to respiratory problems, paralysis, heart failure, and death.
*Tetanus-also known as lockjaw, causes the muscles all over the body to tighten up.
*Pertussis-also known as whooping cough, leads to bad coughing spells that make it difficult for babies to eat, drink, or breathe.
It can last for weeks and it can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Five doses of DTaP are given at: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.

3.Hib
This vaccine protects your baby from Haemophilus influenzae type b. This is a serious disease that is caused by bacteria and it is spread from person to person. It usually strikes children under the age of 5 years. If the germs stay in a child's nose or throat, the child probably won't get sick. If the germs spread into the lungs or bloodstream they can cause serious problems. One of these problems is meningitis; which is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings and it can lead to brain damage and deafness. Four doses of the Hib vaccine are given at: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months. Depending on which Hib vaccine is used, the child may need only three shots.

4.PCV(Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
This vaccine protects your baby from infection with streptococcus pneumoniae(strep) bacteria. It is spread from person to person. These bacteria are the leading cause of meningitis in children under 5. Strep can also cause blood infections, ear infections, pneumonia, deafness, and brain damage. Children under 2 are at the greatest risk. Your baby will be vaccinated at 2 months, 4 months, 6months,and at 12 to 15 months.

5.Polio(IPV)
Inactivated polio vaccine can prevent polio, which is caused by a virus that enters through the mouth. It can cause paralysis of arms, legs, and the muscles that allow you to breathe. Your baby will be vaccinated at 2 months, 4 months, and 16 to 18 months, and a final shot between 4 to 6 years will also be given.

6.MMR(measles, mumps, rubella)
This vaccine protects your baby from these 3 viruses.
*Measles is a virus that causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever.
*Mumps is a virus that causes fever, headache, and swollen glands.
*Rubella(German measles) causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis.
Two shots of MMR are given: one at 12 to 15 months, and one at 4 to 6 years of age.

7.HAV(Hepatitis A)
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. The virus is found mainly in bowel movements and is spread through personal contact or by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The vaccine is given only to people aged 2 years and older. Your doctor will decide if your child needs to be vaccinated after he assesses your child's risk of developing HAV.

8.Varicella(chickenpox)
Chickenpox is a common childhood disease, but it can be dangerous in young infants and adults. It is spread through the air or through fluid from chickenpox blisters. It causes rash, fever, itching, and tiredness. Your child will receive the vaccine between 12 and 18 months.

9.Influenza
This virus is spread through the air and occurs mainly in winter. Fever, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, muscle aches are caused by the flu. Children between 6 and 23 months of age should receive an annual flu shot. Children who are under 9 years of age who get the flu shot for the first time should get 2 doses 1 month apart.