IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION

• Vaccines have saved more lives than any medical intervention including antibiotics.
• Prevention is better than cure; vaccines can prevent disabilities such as blindness and paralysis.
• All new borns should be vaccinated according to the govt. Of india schedule.
• The commonest cause of death of children under the age of 5 is due to pneumonia & diarrhoea.
• Apart from primary vaccines, today we have pneumococcal & rotaviral vaccines which prevent pneumonia & diarrhoea.
• Vaccination protects future generations e.g. rubella infection.

DO’S & DONTS AFTER VACCINATION

• Injectable vaccinations do produce swelling, pain & fever which is reduced by ice compression and paracetomol.
• Vaccination fever can last upto 2 days
• Tb vaccination produces swelling and discharge and should be cleaned only with water.
• Babies can normally be fed immediately after vaccination.
• Children normally eat less 24 hours after vaccination. Hence give plenty of fluids.
• Never give aspirin following vaccination.
• If your child has missed a vaccine, meet the doctor and ask about how to resume the schedule.
• Keep the vaccine card safely as it is of atmost importance before school entry and travelling abroad.
• The vaccination schedule is the same throughtout india, hence, even if you relocate continue the vaccination with the nearby doctor.

BY Dr.Manoj Kumar,
MBBS, DCH
PEDIATRICIAN