Vaccination

Vaccination is a process by which antigenic material is injected into human beings to help develop immunity against a particular pathogen in the body. Generally, babies and toddlers have to get a list of vaccinations done at particular intervals and the government often provides a chart of the vaccination plan for every child. Vaccination is an important part of keeping human beings safe from a variety of ailments and diseases. Read all you need to know about Painless Vaccinations – Safety & Side Effects. Many adults also take vaccinations against diseases that are prevalent in their area. Also, before visiting a foreign country; generally, it is advisable and compulsory to take vaccinations that are mentioned in the health advisory for that country. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and also helped many people lead better lives. For example, the polio vaccine has almost eradicated polio from many parts of the world. Vaccination Chart for babies in India

Painful Vaccination

It is important to understand which vaccines are most painful and have side effects. Vaccinations like DTwP which include vaccination against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and Tetanus are termed as painful vaccinations. This is called a painful vaccination because it causes a slight fever, and after taking this vaccination, children feel pain because of a possibility of an allergic reaction. This may cause persistent crying among children till the pain and allergic reaction subside. Because of this reaction to the vaccination, there is an alternative painless vaccination called DTaP which is sometimes chosen instead of DTwP vaccination. There is a lot of debate between DTaP vs DTwP as to which vaccine is better.

What Is DTaP?

The DTaP vaccination is given to children to protect them from three diseases. If people search painless vaccination wiki, there is a lot of information about them online on Wikipedia. This vaccination includes vaccine immunization against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough. Diphtheria is a respiratory disease that can cause breathing and respiratory problems, paralysis and also can be fatal. Tetanus is caused by bacteria and can attack the nervous system and if it is left untreated, can be fatal. Similarly, whooping cough or Pertussis, can cause pneumonia, seizures and other medical problems and also can be fatal. Hence this vaccination is very important to protect children from these dangerous diseases. Hexaxim vaccination also includes DTaP along with other vaccinations for diseases. Generally, this vaccination is given in two stages - the primary immunization and then a booster immunization that can be given later. Some years ago painless vaccination were banned in India because of effectiveness issues but it was relaunched later and are now available in the country.

DTaP Vaccination – Painless Vaccination

Painless vaccination is a type of vaccination that does not cause swelling or pain at the site of the injection. This is preferred to DTwP vaccination by some because it has fewer post-vaccination side effects like fever, swelling, and pain as compared to DTwP which also vaccinates against Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus. Know more about Painless Vaccinations – Safety & Side Effects.

Advantages of Painless Vaccinations like DTaP

• The main advantage of DTaP painless vaccination is in the post-vaccination period. As mentioned above immediately after the vaccination takes place, this vaccination does not cause as much pain as compared to DTwP.
• There is no swelling on the site of the injection after the vaccination is given. The DTwP vaccination can cause swelling where the injection is administered. Painless vaccination is good for the baby if there is a higher risk of fever or swelling and other side effects due to other health factors.
• Another advantage is that sometimes the DTwP can cause slight fever post vaccination. The advantage of DTaP which is a painless vaccination, the chance of getting fever post vaccination is very less.
• If a child is prone to allergies and severe side effects of vaccinations, this painless vaccine is opted for instead of DTwP. Painless vaccination side effects are limited in comparison to DTaP. Painless vaccination at 6 weeks costs are much higher than DTwP.

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Painless Vaccinations Side Effects

• The main question is - are painless dtp vaccine effective? The effectiveness of this vaccination is a major disadvantage of painless vaccinations. The simple fact is that DTaP is less effective than DTwP to vaccinate against the same diseases. DTaP has lesser immunity stimulating components as compared to DTwP
• For example, DTaP protects a child against Pertussis but that child can carry the disease and infect others as Pertussis enters the vaccinated child’s airways. This means that the child getting the vaccination is immune but can still carry the disease and infect other children. This means that DTwP is safer as it protects the vaccinated and people around them from Pertussis.
• Painful vaccines like DTwP vaccines last longer in the body as compared to DTaP. This means DTaP vaccines require more vaccine shots to maintain the level of immunity as compared to DTwP.
• The cost of painless vaccination for babies in India is high. The painless vaccines are much more expensive than painful vaccinations like DTwP. If there are more times that the vaccination has to be given and so DTaP overall become very effective.

Safety First - Pediatrician’s Advice Generally, the family doctor or the pediatric doctor of the children give the parents all the information regarding when to take the vaccination and which vaccinations need to be taken. Painless vaccination like DTaP is a relatively new and asking all the details about the vaccination to the doctor is advisable. Painless injection for baby costs more than DTwP. The doctor knows the medical history, allergies, and other backgrounds plus medical information about a child. The doctor is likely to give safe medical advice to the parents in choosing between painful and painless vaccination. There are many factors like painless vaccination charges in comparison to DTwP charges and also when to give which type of vaccination. For example, some pediatricians advise the parents to give DTaP as a booster immunization vaccine and not as a primary immunization vaccine. DTaP for 2nd booster vaccine is a choice that many opt for as doctors recommend it to the parents. Taking the right medical advice is essential as the doctor knows best as to which vaccine is a safer option for a child. Pentaxim vaccination also includes the DTaP vaccine. Painless vaccine became very popular among many parents because of the limited post-vaccination side effects as compared to painful vaccines like DTwP. On the other hand, in the long run, painful vaccines like DTwP give more immunization for a longer period of time. Vaccination is very important for children. The government gives a list of vaccinations that have to be done at various intervals and various ages for a child to be immune to a host of diseases that can attack a child anywhere on the planet. Without vaccination, children become very vulnerable to dangerous diseases and so governments all over the world carry out various campaigns to help with educating parents about vaccines. More people being aware of vaccines and all the information related to it make children safer. Over the years many diseases like polio, smallpox and other such disease are all but eradicated from society. There is constant research being done to make the vaccine safer and scientists are looking for better ways to reduce the side effects of these vaccines. While alot of emphasis is given to vaccination, DO VACCINES ALWAYS WORK? My entire family was elated & thrilled to celebrate my angel’s 1^st birthday. Birthdays are always special. Aren’t they? And if it is the 1^st birthday, nothing more exciting. The preparations had begun for a grand celebration. We were embarking on the final countdown. 6 days before the D-Day, my daughter’s fever manifested into “measles”. With rashes all over her body, high temperature & unexplained discomfort, we were in knee-high pain. She was vaccinated with MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) virus in their 10^th month. We had meticulously followed the vaccination schedule as suggested by our pediatrician. And yet, she developed Measles. Why? We asked ourselves, do vaccinations really work always? If they do, to what extent are they effective? How well do they work? The fact is that vaccines do work most of the times. About 90%-99% of the times, depending on the disease or infection. If you follow the schedule as prescribed by your doctor throughout the formative years of your child, you can be sure that your baby is shielded from diseases as long as hygiene & sanitation facilities are well maintained in your environment; both at home & at school. As a parent you should be sure that the vaccine is recommended by a trusted pediatrician because it has to be approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) authority to work at it’s best intended purpose. The drop in the cases reported after the licensing of a drug/vaccine declines drastically, thereby aiding in eliminating the disease altogether. If vaccinations really work well, then why do people get infected? In such rare cases, some people get infected even after getting vaccinated. It means that no vaccine is 100% perfect. Although the reasons remain unexplained, some who have a low immunity may get infected easily. You may also catch the infection if you have not received the recommended “booster shots” as per the vaccination schedule. While you dread of having these diseases, you should remember that if you are vaccinated for a particular disease, even if you are infected by the virus, you will suffer a milder form of the disease. But how do vaccinations actually work? The doctor injects a killed, weakened or a partial form of the diseased germ into your child’s body. To fight the infection, the body responds by releasing antibodies to attack the enemy. So, if your child happens to encounter the actual disease at some point in the future, the antibodies will still be prevalent to fight against them. Once the infection is combated, many anti bodies disappear. But the cells that are involved in the production of the antibodies remain alive as “memory cells”. They remember the original antigen & fight against it, if it tries to attack in the person. This shield is called “Immunity”. So we know what “Immunity” means. What is “Herd Immunity”? The idea is that, if most of the people in a community or a location have been vaccinated & develop immunity against a particular disease, it is tougher for the virus or bacteria to cause an outbreak & put the entire society at risk. Not all people have the same immunity. Some cannot develop immunity against a particular disease. While some are not immunized at all. However, if most of the people in that location are immunized, they indirectly develop something called “Herd Immunity” against the antigen thereby preventing an outbreak of the disease. Yes, the human body is exceedingly complicated.

This is the interesting bit : Research & Science has proved that the mortality rate has drastically decreased after meticulously following the immunization schedule. We have the vital statistics to prove that since the mid 1900’s the human body has developed resistance towards certain diseases that had taken a heavy toll on human lives. So, does this mean that the holistic health of infants these days is far more superior to the earlier days? Brace yourselves. Shockingly, the answer is ‘NO’. Infants these days are susceptible to many more infections & diseases. We are surrounded by various pathogens, harmful virus & bacteria & carcinogens that can attack us either through air, water or through physical contact. The underlying & fundamental equation is to collectively make efforts to keep the society clean & follow the safety measures as suggested by the experts. Depending on your strength of your immunity system & how effectively your antibodies are able to fight off the antigen, you may or may not fall sick. That also decides the effect or degree of your suffering if you are infected. Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about vaccinations that most parents want to know. 1)    This is the million dollar question – Is natural immunity better than vaccinated-acquired immunity? This is tricky but true. On some occasions, natural immunity lasts longer than vaccinated-acquired immunity. However, the risks involved with natural infection outweigh the risks caused due to immunization. In simple words, the benefits of immunity acquired through vaccination is far better than natural immunity because it may cause serious risks (though a minority) by affecting the brain or organs. Also in some cases like tetanus, they provide better immunity than natural immunity. Probably, that’s why your doctor recommends at tetanus shot if you have a deep cut or bruise. 2)    Can my baby develop a particular disease after we inject a weaker or partial form of the antigen or virus? The answer is “No”. You cannot develop the disease by getting injected with the mild form of the infected pathogen. However, there may be, in some cases, some side effects that may be temporary. But every vaccine is designed keeping the safety and overall health in mind thereby minimalizing the possibility of any lethal damage to anyone. 3)    Why are the vaccines not 100% effective? Immunization against a certain disease aims at protecting a particular individual during future exposures to the disease causing antigen. In some cases, the victim’s body is unable to generate an adequate response as a result of which the effectiveness of the immunization is not the same as intended. 4)    Why are there so many vaccines? Is it ok to skip few? Many of them are rare or non-existent in most parts of the world. It is believed that prior to immunization, some of these diseases caused critical illness or death in many cases. If the recommended dosage was not given, over a period of few years, there might be an outbreak of these diseases again which were dormant all these decades. The disease will quickly begin to spread all over the world. Hospitals may not have the facilities to treat every infected patient & this may cause disabilities or long term critical illness for generations to come.

As a parent, all we wish is that our child grows up to be a healthy & happy child. To give your child a healthy start you should exclusively breast feed your child for atleast 6 months & follow the vaccination schedule as recommended by your doctors. Happy Parenting! :) It May Interest You To Read - Is Gripe Water Safe For Babies Health Benefits Of Makhana