Vaccination if provided in the right time makes it possible for parents to keep their infant away from different serious diseases. Parents’ ignorance of the vaccines often complicates the situation. So, parents must have proper knowledge about different vaccines and physician’s recommendations to ensure proper vaccination.

What is vaccination?

It is a biological preparation to protect an infant after its birth from different diseases from time to time.

Essential vaccines for infants:

Hepatitis B:

If the mother is HBSG positive, Hepatitis B vaccine should be injected into one of the baby’s arms and 0.5 ml of Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin into another arm’s muscle within 12 hours of its birth. If HSBG is not examined, Hepatitis B vaccine should be injected within 12 hours of an infant’s birth. Later, the mother needs to take an HSBG test and if the result is positive, the baby should be given HBIG. After the first dose, the baby needs to be given the second dose of Hepatitis B within the first 1-2 months.

The third dose should be given within 9-18 months. Mothers with HSBG positive should take tests to measure the levels of HBSG and Anti-Hig within 1-2 months after the baby’s third dose. The fourth dose can be given with other vaccines. Infants with no dose taken right after the birth should have three doses. The final dose can be given after 24 weeks.

Polio vaccine:

It should be given in four doses. The first one should be given within the first six weeks. The second and third doses can be given after every four weeks. The final dose should be given with MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

BCG vaccine:

It is a remedy for tuberculosis, which should be given only once within six weeks of birth. It is injected into the skin below the hand located right close to the left shoulder. Possible side effects include small scar that might require medical attention.

DPT vaccine:

It works as the remedy for three diseases namely diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. Three doses are given starting anytime between the six weeks and no longer than five years of birth and a four-week interval among each dose. A baby may faint while taking Pertussis vaccine. Babies that are vulnerable or weak should be given diphtheria and tetanus vaccines only.

MMR vaccine:

The right time for this kind of vaccination is the ninth month after birth. Along with this vaccine, the fourth dose of Polio Vitamin capsule is given.

Typhoid vaccine:

Typhoid can lead to discrepant body parts or loss of activity level in babies. As your baby reaches two years of age, it is time to give him/her the vaccine. Continue to give it after every three years.

Rotavirus vaccine (RV):

Diarrhea caused by rotavirus can be life-threatening for a baby. The vaccine should be given in three oral doses. The first one should be within 6-14 weeks of birth. The remaining doses can be given anytime within 32 weeks of age with an interval of 4-10 weeks.

Pneumococcal vaccine:

Acute respiratory tract infection or pneumonia is one of the reasons for death among children. Streptococcus pneumonia is responsible for the disease. Any of the seasonal viral or pneumococcal vaccines can be good. An aid to decrease the risk of lung infection, this vaccine can be given to babies who are no older than five years.

Influenza vaccine:

There are two types of vaccines, namely TIB and LAIV for influenza. TIB should be given as the baby reaches six weeks of age while LAIV is recommended after two years of age.

Conclusion:

Superstitions and ignorance might stand on the way of parents’ attempts to arrange for proper vaccination for their infants. The right types of vaccines being given according to physician’s recommendations can save children from many fatal and contagious diseases.

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