The foundation of a healthy life depends upon a healthy childhood, and vaccines play a crucial role in achieving this. Infants are at a greater risk of contracting diseases as their immune systems are not fully developed. Vaccinations help infants shield against diseases and strengthen their immune systems, reducing the risk of contracting certain diseases in the future.
In this article, we will learn about some of the important vaccines administered to infants and also understand why an infant vaccination schedule is crucial for the holistic health of your child.
Over time, the human body builds immunity against a variety of viruses and bacteria. However, the immune system of newborns and infants is not fully developed, making them more susceptible to some of the most serious infections. Infant vaccines play a crucial role in aiding the immune system by helping it ward off pathogens that could endanger your child’s health.
Infant vaccination provides the following benefits:
- As per the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccinations have saved 154 million lives over the past 50 years, of which around 101 million lives saved were of infants.
- Infant vaccinations can save around 2-3 million lives each year worldwide, thus substantially reducing the global infant mortality rate.
- In contrast to interventions like clean water and improved sanitation, which necessitate costly and time-consuming infrastructure investment, vaccines can be a cost-effective strategy for lowering the burden of pediatric disease.
- Infant vaccinations help in preventing disease, thus reducing medical expenditure.
- Vaccines contribute to the formation of a protective barrier against diseases by bolstering the immune system and preventing co-infections among infants.
- Vaccination against 14 diseases (diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever) has directly contributed to reducing infant deaths by 40% globally.
Recommended Vaccines For Infants In India
The recommended pediatric vaccine list is as follows:
1. Within 24 hours of birth
- BCG vaccine against TB
- Oral Polio vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
2. 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks
- Combination vaccines (5 in 1 or 6 in 1) against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough (Pertussis), Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae, and Polio (DTwP-HepB-Hib/DTwP-HepB-Hib-IPV/DTaP-HepB-Hib-IPV).
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) against pneumonia and serious infections like meningitis.
- Rota vaccine against diarrhea caused by Rotavirus.
3. Flu vaccine against at 6 months and 7 months
Babies under one year of age should receive a 0.5 ml dose of the influenza vaccine via intramuscular injection annually, ideally 2 to 4 weeks before the start of the influenza season.
4. Typhoid conjugate vaccine between 6 to 9 months
All infants aged 6 months and older, as well as children, should receive the Typhoid conjugate vaccine. A single dose is administered between 6 and 9 months of age, and typically, booster doses are not required.
5. Measles-Mumps-Rubella (3 in 1) vaccine at 9 months
The MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Babies receive the first dose at 9 months of age, the second dose at 15 months, and the third dose between 4 and 6 years of age.
What Is A Vaccination Schedule And Why Is It Important?
A vaccination schedule is a list of shots that your doctor prescribes for your baby, along with the suggested timeline for each vaccine. Many vaccines require multiple doses for maximum effectiveness, either to produce a sufficient initial immune response or to boost a response that may have faded over time. Governmental organizations or medical associations create vaccination schedules to maximize effectiveness. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India is responsible for creating the infant vaccine schedule for vaccines given in government centers. Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccines and schedules which may be slightly different from government vaccines & schedules, considering providing maximum benefits to your child.
Why Following An Infant Vaccine Schedule Is Crucial?
Adhering to the infant vaccine schedule provides the following advantages:
Ideal Timing
The vaccination schedule keeps your baby safe. It’s planned around how their immune system reacts to vaccines as they grow, and the chances of them getting sick. This way, your baby is shielded from dangerous diseases at the right time and when they need this protection the most.
Prevents Complications
Infants are most at risk of developing major health consequences. Although they have some immunity at birth, they do not yet have the required defenses against the diseases that vaccinations prevent. Future complications can be avoided by administering vaccinations on time.
Early Protection
Certain vaccines need to be administered in repeated doses for optimal protection, and it may take weeks for a vaccine to start helping your baby produce antibodies that fight the disease. As a result, the infant vaccine schedule is designed in a way that ensures your child receives their shots before coming into contact with the illness.
Prevents Illness
Infants who are not vaccinated on the schedule are not only at risk of getting sick themselves, but they can also spread illness to others who aren’t protected, like people with weakened immune systems.
The Final Takeaway
According to WHO data, approximately 5 million children under the age of 5 died in 2020, primarily due to preventable diseases. Vaccines play a crucial role in lowering the morbidity and mortality rates among infants. To secure a safe and healthy future for our younger ones, it’s imperative to ensure they receive all their vaccine doses according to the recommended schedule. After all, prevention is indeed
better than cure.
FAQs
Infant vaccinations are crucial because they help build immunity before your baby is exposed to illnesses that could be fatal. Vaccinations also strengthen the immune response of your baby.
Scientific evidence shows that giving several vaccines at the same time has no negative effect on infants as they are exposed to several foreign substances that trigger an immune response every day. However, it is advised to consult your pediatrician and stick to the vaccine schedule to avoid any complications.
The important vaccines for infants include those for diseases such as BCG, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), polio, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, flu vaccine, typhoid fever vaccine.
To maintain a vaccination schedule for your infant, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider and follow the schedule provided.
References
- https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/COMBINED-VIS.pdf
- https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/parents-frequently-asked-questions-vaccines#:~:text=Vaccines%20protect%20your%20child%20against,and%20breathing%2C%20especially%20in%20newborns.
- https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/MMR-VACCINE.pdf
- https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/vaccines-shots/get-your-childs-vaccines-schedule
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-follow-a-vaccine-schedule-2020032619271
- https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/INFLUENZA-FLU-VACCINES.pdf
- https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/TYPHOID-VACCINE.pdf
- https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/vaccines-and-immunization-what-is-vaccination
- https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Unit2NationalImmunizationSchedule.pdf
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1796099
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7482790/
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/levels-and-trends-in-child-under-5-mortality-in-2020
