Immunization

Immunization is a topic of concern to many new parents. Every parent should know about immunization and its importance to bring up a healthy child. Immunization is an important aspect of preventive health care. It should be given in early days of life because it is proved to prevent many diseases when it is given in specific months. That's why there is a schedule made for it and given to the new parents. This prevents the parents from missing the particular vaccine that is due.

There are different forms of immunization, but they all function through stimulation of immune system in order to enhance the resistance to a particular mechanism of infection. The different forms available are oral drops and injections. The injections are usually intradermal or subcutaneous. The dosage is the same through out world wide. There are certain countries which do not insist giving BCG, while Asian countries insist in giving it soon after birth or at least in the first month of baby's life.

Vaccines are available for a wide range of diseases from congenital to infectious diseases. To mention a few, they fight against diseases like polio, hepatitis, influenza, diphtheria, whooping cough, tuberculosis, tetanus, rubella, mumps and measles. The baby's immunization plays an important role in providing individual protection initially and in later days' population protection as well. Thus, immunization brings about a healthy population.

The parents should have knowledge about the need, benefits and limitation/contra-indication of each and every vaccine. Immunization rarely has side effects but parents should however be warned about it. There are do's and dont's or expected or undesirable outcome for each vaccine. Parents are advised by their respective health care provider regarding this.

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) :
It is given against tuberculosis.
Dosage: 0.1mg, Route: Intra-dermal, Frequency: At birth (< 1 month)
Do's or dont's: Do not rub the site.

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) :
It is given against polio virus.
Dosage: 2 drops, Route: Oral, Frequency: 3 doses (at 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2 months) and booster between 18 to 24 months of age.
Contra-indication: Diarrhea, vomiting
Undesirable outcome: Signs of allergic reaction, signs of paralysis, high fever and any unusual behavior.

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) :
It's given against the three killer diseases mentioned above.
Dosage: 0.5ml Route: deep intra-muscular (anterioateral aspect of thigh), Frequency: 3 doses (at 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2 months) and booster between 18 to 24 months and 4 to 6 years of age.
Contra-indication: High grade fever.
Expected outcome: High pitched cry, crying continuously for 2 or more hours (due to pain at the injection site), fever.
Undesirable outcome: Signs of allergic reaction, high grade fever causing continuous seizures, altered consciousness.
Do's: Rub gently and apply hot fomentation, administer anti-pyeritic analgesic as prescribed by the physician.

Mumps, Measles, Rubella (MMR) :
It's given against the three infectious diseases mentioned above.
Dosage: 0.5ml, Route: Deep sub-cutaneous or intra-muscular, Frequency: 9 to 15 months and booster in 4-6 years of age.
Expected outcome: Mild fever and rash, pain and stiffness in joints, slight swelling of glands (rare).
Undesirable outcome: Signs of allergic reaction, seizure, behavioral change.

Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV) :
It's given against hepatitis B infection.
Dosage: 0.5ml, Route: intra-muscular, Frequency: 3 doses (at birth, 1 and 6 months) and booster at 10 years or after.
Expected outcome: Pain and soreness.

Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (Hib) :
Its given against pneumonia and meningitis.
Dosage: 0.5ml, Route: intra-muscular, Frequency: 3 doses (2, 4 and 6 months ) and booster between 12 to 15 months of age.
Expected outcome: Pain, redness, swelling and soreness at the injection site.

There are lot more optional vaccines available for your baby but these are basic ones that has to be administered on time. Be knowledgeable about your baby's immunization and prevent them from these killer diseases.

Bacille calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine

Bacille calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a attenuated tubercle bacilli given at birth for the babies. This vaccination gives 80% protection against tuberculous. Albert Calmette, a French bacteriologist and Camille Guerin, a veterinarian are the founders of BCG and it is named after them. This vaccine is proved to be a safest vaccine which prevents pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis in children. Thus vaccination programs greatly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases.

Any vaccine should be given at the right age of life to produce immunity in course of time against that particular disease for which it's given. BCG is given soon after birth or in the first week of life. Some countries do not insist giving this vaccine but most developing countries have BCG as a part of their regular immunisation schedule. BCG and OPV are given as a part baby care in many hospitals.

BCG vaccine is given intradermally at the deltoid region. It comes in an ampule. The dosage is 0.1 mg in 1 ml at birth and the frequency varies as per countries vaccination schedules. BCG vaccine usually causes pain but it should not be massaged. It does not require any hot formentation. It does not cause any fever. The only side effect is, it produces a scar. This scar acts as a proof of your previous immunisation with BCG.

There are other advantages of taking BCG. Now BCG is used for the treatment of bladder and colorectal cancers, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, leprosy and meningitis. They are more associated with adult diseases. The rare complication is the abscess formation when it is given as a sub-cutaneous injection by mistake.

BCG is a safe vaccine for your baby. Vaccinate your baby as early as you can because it is proved to be more effective when it is given in the first few days of life. Let your baby cry now with the small tiny poke and keep smiling all through his life.