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Your child’s immune system is designed to
produce cells and antibodies to combat viruses and bacteria. In many
cases, the encounter with these micro organisms will give baby a
complex immunological ‘memory’ (or immunity) to prevent future
invasions by the same germs. However, there are certain types of
viruses and bacteria that cannot be fought off without the help of
vaccines.
Why Vaccinate Your Child?
Children are exposed to millions of
foreign antigens every day through eating, talking, playing and even
breathing, which introduce new germs into their body. In fact, babies
are most susceptible to infectious diseases because their immune system
is not fully mature. Vaccination is the most effective method to
protect your baby from many harmful diseases. Most of the childhood
vaccinations are given during the first year of life and as soon as he
is strong to withstand them.
Vaccines work by introducing a small amount of a killed or weakened
virus or bacteria into your baby’s body through an injection or orally.
This stimulates his immune system to build antibodies and other
defenses against that particular micro organism. In this way, your baby
becomes immune to the disease it can cause.
Developments in Vaccines
Newer combination vaccines such as those
for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus and hepatitis B
as well as for measles, mumps and rubella, offer more savings in time
and cost than side effects. Further studies have also shown that
recommended vaccines that are given together are as effective as when
they are administered individually. This is because the combined
vaccines are being given at the time when babies are at the highest
risk of catching the diseases.
When Not to Vaccinate?
While it is advisable to immunize your
baby per schedules, there are some cases when a pediatrician will
refrain from or postpone your baby’s vaccination. You must therefore
inform the pediatrician if your baby has any of the following
conditions:
* Sick with a fever or diarrhoea
* Had a major reaction to previous vaccination
* Premature babies as advised by the pediatrician
* Family/siblings with a history of adverse reaction to certain types
of vaccine
* Suffering from an acute febrile illness
* Allergies to egg or starch
* A history of fits
* Children undergoing cancer treatment or household contacts undergoing
cancer treatment
* An immune system disorder
Why Are Some Children Not Vaccinated When They
Should Be?
Unfortunately, some parents decide
against having their children vaccinated due to the following
misconceptions and fears:
* Belief that there is low risk of contracting the diseases nowadays
* Fear, particularly resulting from press stories, that their children
may contract disease from the vaccination
* Fear of injections
* Fear of bad reactions
* Apparent lack of time
The reality is that those diseases continue to present a serious risk
as they can be contracted from infected people and even the environment
(as in the case of tetanus which is caused by a certain bacteria in
soil).
Cases of serious adverse effects associated with vaccinations are
extremely rare. On the other hand, infection would be devastating.
There is no effective of specific treatment for man of these diseases.
As yet, there are hardly any drugs to successfully combat the viral
diseases (poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B). When
complications arise, there is little left except to put the children on
supportive treatment that can be unpleasant and expensive (e.g.
mechanical ventilation, anti-viral medication and gamma globulin, and
anti-convulsants). Antibiotics are administered for the bacterial
infections (haemophilus influenza B, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus and
tuberculosis). However, treatment tends to be prolonged over several
months. As is often the case with pertussis, there is also the risk of
being too late to treat the disease and prevent severe complications.
All things considered, the benefits of childhood vaccination far
outweigh the risks and whatever temporary discomfort that may be
involved.
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