Babies of all preterm and low birthweight gestationsal ages require vaccinations as part of the CDC vaccination schedule, designed to build and strengthen their immune systems during this critical stage of growth and development.
Vaccines contain either dead or weakened forms of viruses and bacteria to allow babies’ immune systems to build protection against them. The CDC vaccination schedule includes Hep B and Hep A vaccinations, as well as DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccination and flu vaccination.
Why do I need to vaccinate my baby?
Vaccines offer protection from serious diseases that could result in severe complications, even death. Babies require both Hepatitis B (HepB) and Rotavirus vaccines to help protect them against diarrheal illness and dehydration in infants.
Babies may cry or fuss for a short period after receiving vaccinations, but will usually feel better once cuddled by their parent(s). Vaccines undergo extensive testing to ensure they are safe and effective; their composition includes only weakened germs that represent only a fraction of what babies encounter daily; plus some side effects like redness or tenderness at the site where the shot was administered may arise as a result.
What are vaccinations?
Vaccines are shots given to infants and children to ward off potentially life-threatening diseases, including serious infectious ones like chickenpox. Although their names might sound daunting at first, each vaccine undergoes years of rigorous testing before being given to vulnerable populations.
Hepatitis A vaccines (two doses) protect infants against life-threatening liver infections; rotavirus vaccines (1 or 2 doses) stop diarrhea which can lead to dehydration; pertussis vaccines (3-4 doses) lower the risk of whooping cough – a violent coughing fit which makes breathing hard, potentially life threatening and sometimes fatal for infants.
Many parents worry that premature newborns are too fragile for vaccination schedules designed for young children, yet the schedule has been thoroughly tested with preemies as well.
Why do I need to vaccinate my baby more than once?
Your baby may require multiple doses of some vaccines in order to gain immunity, such as those for influenza or measles that need booster shots in later years. In these instances, it is necessary for him/her to build up immunity over time as some diseases like the flu recur periodically or lose effectiveness over time, like measles vaccine which requires booster shots during adolescence.
Some parents prefer to spread out vaccinations over time for fear that too many jabs at once will overwhelm a young baby’s immune system. But the recommended vaccination schedule is based on extensive scientific research involving individual vaccines as well as multiple doses given together, all tested individually to ensure they work and are safe for babies.
Infants born preterm should adhere to their recommended vaccination schedule, since contracting the diseases that these vaccinations protect against could pose serious health issues, including life-threatening infection.
Why do I need to vaccinate my baby again in adolescence?
Many people lack an understanding of why vaccines are necessary, leading them to make decisions that put their children’s safety at risk. Some might be misinformed and believe false reports linking vaccines with SIDS, multiple sclerosis or other conditions when in fact these vaccines must undergo thorough tests before approval for use.
The recommended vaccination schedule coincides with when children’s immune systems are most capable of fighting off serious illnesses, called peak immunity periods. Vaccines also contribute to herd immunity by making everyone immune against specific threats in a community – this process is known as herd immunity. Most babies can follow the CDC schedule; however, some need different ones due to health conditions or other considerations; please speak to your physician to figure out the most suitable regimen for your baby.
Why do I need to vaccinate my baby again in adulthood?
Infants and young children are exposed to numerous germs each day. Their immune systems recognize these antigens and respond by eliminating them to maintain health in their bodies.
Vaccines contain antigens designed to prime an infant’s immune system against exposure to disease-causing bacteria or viruses. Although vaccine antigens represent only a fraction of what babies encounter daily from crawling on the floor, eating and breathing, their antigenic exposure cannot be overestimated.
Hepatitis B vaccine provides protection for babies against serious liver disease hepatitis, while pertussis vaccine helps avoid life-threatening coughing fits in infants and pneumococcal vaccine prevents pneumonia infections in lungs and spinal cord (meningitis) in infants and children.
What are the side effects of vaccinations?
Vaccines undergo extensive testing and review to ensure their safety and efficacy, with common side effects including soreness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever and headache. You can learn more about possible vaccine side effects on the CDC website.
Hepatitis A vaccines offer protection from an infection of the liver that may lead to serious consequences, and are given twice at 12 to 23 months and 6 months respectively.
Hib vaccination protects against haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a bacteria which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and certain ear infections. A four-dose series given at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months followed by booster injection at 12 to 15 months is provided as part of this protection against Hib.
What if I miss a dose of a vaccine?
Vaccines are intended to shield babies at their most susceptible times and therefore, the vaccine schedule must be carefully planned to ensure children receive timely protection.
Nevertheless, if your child appears behind schedule because of COVID-19 lockdown, speak with their healthcare provider as soon as possible and they can advise when your child will receive their first doses of Hep B, RVD and flu vaccines.
As soon as you schedule the first vaccine appointment for your baby, ensure they have no other obligations within three or four weeks to receive their second dose in order to establish full immunity before they come into contact with real disease.
What if I don’t vaccinate my baby?
Vaccines can help your child build immunity against diseases that could have serious repercussions, including measles, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), rotavirus rubella mumps varicella influenza. Without vaccines children are at increased risk for these illnesses including measles tetanus diphtheria whooping cough pertussis rotavirus rubella mumps varicella varicella influenza.
The recommended vaccine schedule helps safeguard infants by immunizing them at an ideal moment when their immune systems are at its strongest and best equipped to ward off diseases. If your baby has health conditions or travels abroad, their vaccination status may require altering this plan – your pediatrician can keep you updated.
