Immunizations

 
At birth the baby is immune to some common childhood diseases. He has contracted immunity from the mother because her blood contains antibodies which fight these common diseases. This immunity is, however, temporary and gradually wears off over the first few months of the baby's life. Fortunately, there are immunizations, or vaccines, which are given to newborns which compensate for this lost immunity, and protect infants from various diseases that have serious, even fatal, side effects.

This section will discuss what immunizations (or vaccinations) are, why immunizations are important, which immunizations are standard and recommended, side effects, efficacy of disease prevention, and what a normal infant immunization schedule looks like.

What are Immunizations?

Immunizations - also known as vaccinations - are given to children to help protect them from diseases with potentially dangerous and fatal effects. Immunizations are given in the form of a needle and contain a harmless amount of the weakened disease organism or its products. The amount of the germ present in the immunization is not enough to harm the baby, but is enough to make his body begin producing antibodies that will guard against future contraction of the disease. In some instances, immunization does not completely protect against the disease but builds up a resistance which makes future infection much less severe. Some immunizations require one injection, and others require multiple injections throughout the first months and years of life.

Why Become Immunized?

There are numerous reasons as to why immunizing the baby, and keeping the mother's immunizations current, is advantageous:

- Immunized persons are greatly protected from certain diseases. Diseases still exist and can infect anyone who is not immunized against it.

- Immunization helps protect those around you. There is a percentage of the population that has severe allergies which prevent them from being immunized, and there are others who have no reaction to immunizations and fail to build resistance to the targeted diseases. Immunizations help to prevent the spread of diseases, minimizing the chances of these people contracting them.

- Immunizations, when done in a large portion of the population, prevent outbreaks and epidemics from occurring. Thus, immunizations not only help protect those who have received them but also help to eradicate the diseases which they target.

- In certain areas, immunizations are mandatory, and must be had before a child is legally allowed to enter school.

- The potential risks are low. Adverse reactions to immunizations are on average very minimal and do not last long.

- Immunizations cost very little and are cheaper than treating the diseases that hey are aimed at preventing.

What Immunizations are recommended?

Most standard immunization regimes recommend the following vaccinations:

- Influenza

- Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DTaP): this immunization protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. This vaccination is given six times throughout life.

- Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) - given only to children under the age of 2

- Polio (inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or IPV): this immunization requires four injections

- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): requires three to four injections

- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): requires two injections

- Hepatitis A (Hep A)

- Hepatitis B (Hep B): requires two shots that provide long lasting immunity

- Chickenpox

Side Effects and Reactions to Immunizations

Immunizations do carry with them side effects. These side effects range from mild to severe, but are not common. Minor side effects, if they occur at all, include:

- slight fever

- drowsiness, irritability, and loss of appetite

- swelling, red discoloration, and tenderness around the area where the shot was given

- a mild rash one to two weeks after chickenpox and MMR immunizations

- temporary joint pain after MMR immunizations

- mumps vaccine may lead to facial swelling nearly three weeks after the immunization

After the immunization the mother may want to give the baby the recommended dosage of a children's pain reliever with acetaminophen to prevent fevers and aches that may result from immunizations shots.

Although severe side effects are very rare, they can occur. In fact, the risk of actually contracting the targeted disease is far less than the risk of harm done by the immunizations. Nonetheless, some of the more serious side effects include:

- very high fever (i. e. above 104. 5 degrees Fahrenheit)

- difficulty breathing

- seizure

- collapsing

- dramatic changes in alertness

If the baby appears to have a reaction to immunization that is more severe than the minor side effects mentioned, the mother should seek medical help for the baby immediately.

How effective are Immunizations?

Immunizations, on average, take between one and three weeks to be effective depending on the type of vaccine. While no vaccine is 100% effective, most of them are effective in 90% of the children who receive them. A percentage of those immunized do not become completely immune even when they have been given the entire treatment of vaccinations for a disease.

Immunization Schedule for Infants

During the first five years of the baby's life he will be subjected to numerous immunizations that will protect him from various diseases. The baby's physician should be able to provide these immunizations and they will likely coincide with the baby's monthly checkups. It is vital that the baby receive these immunizations for the sake of his health and that of others around him.

A typical immunization schedule for an infant will look similar to the following:

Birth

1. Hepatitis B - first shot

2. Vitamin K - first and only shot

Two Months

1. DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis - first shot

2. Polio - first shot

3. Hib: type b influenza - first shot

4. Hepatitis B - second shot

Four Months

1. DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis - second shot

2. Polio - second shot

3. Hib: type b influenza - second shot

Six Months

1. DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis - third shot

2. Polio - third shot

3. Hib: type b influenza - third shot

Twelve Months

1. Varicella: chicken pox - first shot

2. MMR: measles, mumps, and rubella - first shot

3. Hib: type b influenza - fourth shot

Fifteen Months

1. Hepatitis B - third shot

2. DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis - fourth shot

Four Years

1. MMR: measles, mumps, and rubella - second shot

2. Polio - fourth shot

Fifth Shot

1. DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis - fifth shot

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