Immunization of young children

Most of us know that our children need vaccines as children. But we don't always know which vaccines our children should get and when.

Rotavirus vaccine recommended as three doses at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. The first dose should be given at 6 to 12 weeks of age, with subsequent doses given 4 to 10 weeks apart. Rotavirus vaccination should not be started in children older than 12 weeks and should not be given after 32 weeks of age. Another vaccine requires two doses between 6 and 23 weeks of age. Rotavirus is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in children and has historically been one of the leading causes of childhood hospitalization for dehydration, although widespread use of the rotavirus vaccine has reduced this number. Both vaccines carry a slight increased risk of intussusception, a condition in which the small intestine folds over into another part of the intestine, causing a bowel obstruction.

The flu vaccine or flu shot is currently recommended for all children 6 months of age and older.

Varicella vaccine should be given for the first time at 12 to 15 months of age, and the recommended second dose should be given at 4 to 6 years of age.

Human papillomavirus vaccine is recommended to be administered on a three-dose schedule, with the second and third doses administered 2 and 6 months after the first dose. For boys and girls aged 11 to 12, routine human papillomavirus vaccination is recommended. A series of vaccinations can be started from the age of 9; and catch-up vaccination is recommended before age 26 for those who have not previously been vaccinated or have not completed the full series of vaccines. the human papillomavirus vaccine has been linked to cervical cancer and genital warts.

Importance of vaccinations for children

Vaccines are the best way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Along with sanitation and clean water, vaccines have been called the greatest public health intervention in history. Many diseases that were once widespread are now at their lowest levels in decades thanks to vaccines.

Why do we need a childhood immunization schedule?

Because of the development of a child's immune system, doctors have found that vaccines work best when given at a certain age.

For example, the measles vaccine is usually not given to children until they are at least one year old. If given earlier, it may not work.

In addition, some vaccines require multiple doses before full immunization occurs. For them to be effective, it is important that the doses are not administered too close together. That is why doctors have developed vaccination schedules for your children. However, if a child misses the recommended dose at a given age, they may catch up later.

It is important that you keep accurate records of your child's vaccinations. Proof of childhood vaccination is required for public schools and many kindergartens.

Childhood vaccine precautions

Today, vaccines are considered very safe and very important for your child's health. If a child has moderate or severe illness on the day of the scheduled vaccination, it should probably be delayed until the child feels better. However, your child should not miss a routine vaccination if they have a cold or a mild illness.

Some vaccines may occasionally cause minor side effects, such as swelling or irritation at the injection site, or a slight fever. Tylenol or ibuprofen given at the time of vaccination can usually prevent this.

There have been widespread reports that vaccines are somehow linked to autism spectrum disorders. A recent large-scale scientific study by the Institute of Medicine showed that there is no link between autism and vaccines. In fact, the original journal article previously linking autism to vaccines has been retracted.