Child Vaccinations: Don’t Wait to Vaccinate

Before vaccinations became widely available, disease like measles, mumps, and whooping cough were common in childhood and thousands were left blind, deaf, brain-damaged, or dead.  Today vaccines have almost completely wiped out several of those diseases in addition to smallpox, polio, diphtheria, and haemophilus (Hib) infections.

Vaccinations (or immunizations) contain an imitation virus, typically a live but weakened virus or an inactive bacteria virus, that is administered to protect against serious disease.  These viruses cause the body to produce antibodies, which are special agents of the immune system, and attack harmful elements inside the body.  While fighting the imitation virus, the antibodies learn to recognize the real virus so they can attack it when the body is exposed to it.

Overall, vaccines are safe to administer and typically only cause minor side effects.  According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the risk of contracting a disease is more dangerous than the risk of a serious reaction to a vaccination.

However, there are a few rare cases of major reactions in children such as:

• Extremely high fever – a rectal temperature reading of 105 degrees or more.
• Inconsolable crying – more than 3 hours of crying without stopping, or an abnormal cry.
• Convulsions – full body shaking, twitching, or jerking in response to high fever.
• Sever allergic reaction – swelling in the mouth and throat, wheezing and breathing difficulties, dizziness, paleness, or limpness.

Should your child suffer from any of the above symptoms after receiving their vaccinations, call

your doctor immediately!

Although today in the United States epidemics of infectious diseases are rare, germs that cause diseases still exist and may effect people who are not protected by vaccines: 

·         Because of a drop in children getting vaccinations for measles, the disease resurfaced between 1989 and 1991, resulting in 55,000 cases and 132 deaths.

·         Influenza typically claims 200,000 to 400,000 deaths each year.

·         Hepatitis B is responsible for 5,000 deaths each year, due to complications from the disease. 

Prevention is always better than treatment.  Experts recommend that all children be routinely vaccinated.  Newborns are immune to many diseases because of antibodies they have acquired from their mothers while in the womb.  These antibodies only last for about a month to one year after birth, so it is best to vaccinate children when they are babies.  However, it in never too late!  By vaccinating your child on time, you will not have to worry about them becoming infected or infecting others, especially once they reach school age when the risk increases.