Havent We Gotten Rid Of Most Of These Diseases In This Country
Some vaccine-preventable diseases, like pertussis and chickenpox, remain common in the United States. On the other hand, other diseases vaccines prevent are no longer common in this country because of vaccines. However, if we stopped vaccinating, the few cases we have in the United States could very quickly become tens or hundreds of thousands of cases. Even though many serious vaccine-preventable diseases are uncommon in the United States, some are common in other parts of the world. Even if your family does not travel internationally, you could come into contact with international travelers anywhere in your community. Children who dont receive all vaccinations and are exposed to a disease can become seriously sick and spread it through a community.
Can A Vaccine Cause My Baby To Get Sick
Vaccines are extremely safe and serious side effects are rare. Almost all sickness or discomfort after vaccination is minor and temporary, such as a soreness at the injection site or mild fever. These can often be controlled by taking over-the-counter pain medication as advised by a doctor, or applying a cold cloth to the injection site. If parents are concerned, they should contact their doctor or health care provider.
Extensive studies and research show that there is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism.
Vaccines Given At Two Months
Hepatitis B Vaccine is given to your baby for the second time during the two month check-up.
DTaP Vaccine protects your baby from three life-threatening, toxin-releasing bacterial diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis . Often found in unsanitary conditions or from improper wound care, tetanus is a severe disease of the nerves that can cause the jaw to lock. Diphtheria affects breathing and the throat in small children and may cause nerve, heart, and kidney damage. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that mostly affects babies under six months and causes coughing spells that can become severe and potentially deadly. Getting the vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy is also a great way to help prevent your infant from contracting pertussis.
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What Else Should You Expect At Your Babys 4
Take your baby to all their regular pediatrician appointments. At your babys 4-month checkup, your doctor will weigh your baby and check their length to see how they are growing. All the measurements will be added to your babys growth and development chart.
Your pediatrician will also look for and ask about other signs of your babys development, like:
- holding up their head
What Is A Vaccination Schedule
A vaccination schedule is a plan with recommendations for which vaccines your children should get and when they should get them. Vaccines are one of the most important ways to prevent children from getting some dangerous diseases. By exposing you to a germ in a controlled way, vaccines teach your body to recognize and fight it.
Government vaccine recommendations are just that — recommendations. You arent forced to get them. But state laws require your kids to have certain vaccines before they can go to daycare, school, or college, with some exceptions. Vaccines protect not just your child, but everyone they come in contact with. The more people who get vaccinated, the harder it is for a disease to spread.
Before theyre approved for use and added to the schedule, vaccines go through years of testing to make sure they work and that theyre safe. The government keeps track of any reports of side effects to make sure no problems come up.
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What Is The Link Between Vaccines And Sids
Recommendations were developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related deaths in infants up to 12 months old. AAP says that making sure your child is fully immunized can help reduce the risk for SIDS. No evidence has been found linking vaccines as a cause of SIDS.
Babies Who Should Not Have The 6
Most babies can have the 6-in-1 vaccine, but there are a few that should not, for example, those who:
- are allergic to the vaccine
- have a high temperature at the time of the vaccination appointment wait until they’ve recovered
- have a neurological problem thats getting worse, including poorly controlled epilepsy wait until theyve been seen by a specialist
The 6-in-1 vaccine should not be given to babies who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, or a reaction to any part of the vaccine that may be present in trace amounts, such as neomycin, streptomycin or polymixin B.
There’s no need to postpone vaccination if your baby has a minor illness, such as a cough or a cold with no temperature.
If your baby has a history of fits or has had a fit within 72 hours of a previous dose of the vaccine, speak to your GP surgery, nurse or health visitor for advice.
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Cant I Just Wait Until My Child Goes To School To Catch Up On Immunizations
Before entering school, young children can be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases from parents and other adults, brothers and sisters, on a plane, at child care, or even at the grocery store. Children under age 5 are especially susceptible to diseases because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. Dont wait to protect your baby and risk getting these diseases when he or she needs protection now.
Why Children Are Vaccinated At Such A Young Age
Children are vaccinated at a very young age because this is when they are most vulnerable to diseases. At this point their immune system is not developed enough to be able to fight serious infections.
The vaccination schedule is based on infants’ ability to create an immune response. Vaccines are given to protect them against 14 serious diseases at a time when they are most at risk.
Medical experts do not advise delaying or spreading out the recommended vaccines. This does not provide any added benefit to your child.
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Faqs For Your Baby’s 8
What are vaccines made of?
Vaccines contain a small amount of the germs that cause the disease . The germs in vaccines are either killed or weakened, and so won’t make your baby unwell they are in there to help your baby’s immune system respond to, and build immunity to a specific disease.
According to the Oxford Vaccine Group, other ingredients in vaccines include small traces of antibiotics, egg and yeast proteins, formaldehyde, water and acidity regulators. All of these ingredients are perfectly safe in such small amounts, and are needed to ensure the vaccine works properly. Even apples contain scary-sounding chemicals!
Do vaccines contain mercury?
Generally speaking, most childhood vaccines do not contain thiomersal . Originally, thiomersal was used as a preservative in some multi-dose vials of flu vaccines to prevent the growth of dangerous microbes, which can be deadly.
Today, except for some flu vaccines in multi-dose vials, no thiomersal are present in baby vaccinations, or the amount is close to zero.
How long do side-effects of 8-week jabs last?
The side-effects following immunisation are mostly mild and usually last one to two days. The most common side-effect is often a fever , and some babies may be slightly unsettled or sleepy. If you are worried about new side-effects that last beyond a couple of days, seek advice from your GP.
Do vaccines temporarily weaken the immune system?
Can adults get rotavirus from the baby vaccine?
Need advice?
Where Can My Child Get Vaccinated
Your child can get vaccinated at your local health unit. Health units are also called public health units, community health centres, or primary care homes in some areas of BC. Some family doctors and nurse practitioners also give vaccines. Pharmacists can vaccinate children who are five years of age and older. Services vary across BC.
Its best to book your childs appointment well in advance as clinics book up quickly. This helps to ensure your child is vaccinated on time.
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Final Tips On Vaccines
Keep this information in mind to help your childs immunizations go more smoothly:
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Common side effects of vaccines include swelling at the site of the injection, soreness, and fever. Discuss these side effects with your healthcare provider and ask what symptoms deserve an office call.
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Ask your healthcare provider’s office if it participates in an immunization registry. This is a source you can go to if your vaccine records get lost.
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Ask your healthcare provider’s office if it has an immunization reminder or recall system. This type of system will call to remind you when vaccines are due. It will also warn you if an immunization has been missed.
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Always bring your immunizations record with you to all of your child’s office visits. Make sure the healthcare provider signs and dates every immunization.
Vaccines are some of the safest and most effective medicines we have. They have made many dangerous childhood diseases rare today.
Do I Have To Vaccinate My Baby On Schedule If Im Breastfeeding Him
Yes, even breastfed babies need to be protected with vaccines at the recommended ages.The immune system is not fully developed at birth, which puts newborns at greater risk for infections.
Breast milk provides important protection from some infections as your babys immune system is developing. For example, babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of ear infections, respiratory tract infections, and diarrhea. However, breast milk does not protect children against all diseases. Even in breastfed infants, vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many diseases. Your baby needs the long-term protection that can only come from making sure he receives all his vaccines according to the CDCs recommended schedule.
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Tetanus Diphtheria And Pertussis Vaccination
Routine vaccination
- Adolescents age 1112 years: 1 dose Tdap
- Pregnancy: 1 dose Tdap during each pregnancy, preferably during the early part of gestational weeks 2736
- Tdap may be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus- and diphtheria-toxoid-containing vaccine.
Catch-up vaccination
- Adolescents age 1318 years who have not received Tdap: 1 dose Tdap, then Td or Tdap booster every 10 years
- Persons age 718 years not fully vaccinated* with DTaP: 1 dose Tdap as part of the catch-up series if additional doses are needed, use Td or Tdap.
- Tdap administered at age 710 years
- Children age 79 years who receive Tdap should receive the routine Tdap dose at age 1112 years.
- Children age 10 years who receive Tdap do not need the routine Tdap dose at age 1112 years.
Special situations
*Fully vaccinated = 5 valid doses of DTaP OR 4 valid doses of DTaP if dose 4 was administered at age 4 years or older.
What Should I Expect After My Baby’s 8
As with any vaccine, it is possible for your baby to experience some minor side-effects following their 8-week vaccinations.
Side-effects may include:
It is important to bear in mind that these side-effects may not happen at all, and even if they do, will be mild and short-lived, usually lasting one to two days max, so try not to worry.
Netmums’ GP, Dr Kenny Livingstone comments:
Your babys first set of vaccinations can be daunting and as GPs we realise that, but they are vitally important to protect your child from numerous illnesses as they grow up.
‘Even during the COVID-19 Pandemic, vaccinations have been continuing as normal, but if your baby is unwell prior to any of their vaccinations, it is best to delay them for a few days until they are feeling better. Your practice nurse will happily rearrange them for you.’
He continues:
‘The MenB vaccine can cause quite high fevers at the two month, four month and 12 month schedule. This is completely normal, but can be alarming so giving your baby paracetamol for 1-2 days after this vaccine is advised.’
Autism is NOT a possible side-effect of your baby’s vaccinations, and there is no evidence to suggest links between the two.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Vaccines
It is possible for any vaccine to cause side effects. Common side effects include a mild fever and pain or redness at the injection site. Most babies and children experience only mild side effects, if any.
Possible vaccine side effects include:
- Fever
- Soreness or redness at the injection site
- Swelling
- Headache
- Chills
Serious side effects are rare and must be treated right away. Seek emergency medical care if your child develops any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
- Nonstop crying for over three hours
Measles Mumps And Rubella Vaccine
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine – given at 12 months
The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one needle that protects against measles, mumps and rubella . It should be given to children soon after their first birthday and a second dose at 4-6 years of age with the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine.
Immunization against measles, mumps and rubella is required by law for all children attending school in Ontario, unless exempted.
This vaccine should also be given to adults who are not protected against measles, mumps or rubella. Pregnant women who have been told that they are not protected against rubella, should receive MMR vaccine as soon as they are no longer pregnant.
What is measles?
Measles can be a serious infection. It causes high fever, cough, rash, runny nose and watery eyes. Measles lasts for one to two weeks. Ear infections or pneumonia can happen in one out of every 10 children with measles. Measles can also be complicated by encephalitis, an infection of the brain, in about one out of every 1,000 children with measles. This may cause brain damage and developmental delays. Measles can also make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage or give birth prematurely.
Measles spreads from person to person very easily and quickly. People can get measles from an infected person coughing or sneezing around them or simply talking to them.
What is mumps?
What is rubella ?
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