Vaccinations are crucial for newborns as they shield them from various infections and diseases in all stages of life. Babies up to 28 days of birth are referred to as newborns and they are more likely to contract an infection and acquire life-threatening illnesses, and so are infants, because their immune systems are still developing. Vaccines help the immune system fight against several disease-causing bacteria and viruses, thus safeguarding your newborn and infant’s health.
In this article, we will discuss the significance of vaccination for infants and newborns and discover how these vaccines can play a major role in safeguarding your child’s health.
Why Vaccination For Infants And Newborns Is Important?
The human body protects itself by developing immunity against various viruses and bacteria with time. However, a child’s immune system is not completely developed at birth. During this crucial phase, the vaccination given at birth helps the immune system combat the harmful germs that might pose a health risk to the newborn’s health.
Vaccination provides the following benefits to newborns:
- Vaccines will help protect your child against diseases that can cause serious harm or prove to be fatal, especially in people with developing immune systems like infants.
- Immunizations for newborns can reduce their need for antibiotics, which in turn reduces the prevalence of antibiotic resistance.
- Vaccinating your newborn against disease protects their health and helps you save financial resources.
- Since infants and newborns are vulnerable to infections, vaccines reduce this risk to a large extent.
Recommended Vaccination For Newborns
Wondering which vaccine is given to newborns and infants? Here are some of the recommended vaccines.
Vaccines For Newborns Below 4 Weeks
Hepatitis B
The hepatitis B virus can result in persistent liver swelling and cause irreversible lifetime consequences. The baby receives the first of three or four doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine before departing the hospital. It is advised that newborns receive their first dosage within twenty-four hours of birth.
BCG
BCG is one of the important vaccines to be given to newborns in India to protect against Tuberculosis (TB). It is highly effective in preventing severe forms of Tuberculosis like TB Meningitis (infection of layers covering the brain) and disseminated TB. It is generally given in the upper part of the left arm, which leaves a permanent mark.
Birth dose of Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV)
The Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV) not only safeguards your child from polio but also contributes to the global eradication efforts against the disease. OPV is administered as 2 oral drops. OPV administered for the first time within 24 hours of birth is called birth dose or 0 dose. This is very important to protect against early infections. Birth dose of OPV helps to create protective barrier in the intestine to prevent the entry of Poliovirus through the intestine.
Vaccines For Babies Below 6 Months
Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
The best defence against the three dangerous diseases whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, and diphtheria is a 6 in 1 or 5 in 1 vaccine which provides not only protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis but also against other infections like H. Influenza, Hepatitis B and Polio (only in 6 in1 shot) Dtap vaccination. These three illnesses can pose a danger to anyone regardless of age, but whooping cough poses a particular risk to infants.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
The bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is the source of the deadly illness known as Hib disease. Infants younger than five and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to Hib illness. It can be fatal or result in permanent disability.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Liver damage and cancer can result from the contagious and possibly dangerous hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can be a persistent, lifelong infection in babies. Although there isn’t a treatment for hepatitis B, the strongest defence against it is immunity to the virus via vaccination.
Pneumococcal vaccine
Pneumococcal illness can result in infections that could be extremely serious or fatal. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine offers a defence against pneumococcal disease-causing bacteria.
Polio vaccine
Poliovirus, which can infect the spinal cord and induce paralysis, is a disease that can be both disabling and potentially fatal. Children under the age of five are at a significant risk of the disease.
Vaccines For Babies Between 6 Months To Below 12 Months Old
Flu vaccine
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.
Typhoid conjugate vaccine
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.
MMR vaccine
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.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
The meningococcal vaccine protects against types A, C, W, and Y of meningococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis and other serious illnesses caused by meningococcal bacteria. For babies under 12 months of age, the vaccine is administered as a two-dose series.
Side Effects Of Vaccination
Vaccination given at birth and later is generally safe for newborns, however mild side effects such as pain or a rash at the site of the injection can be noticed. In times like this, it is advisable to take the following measures:
- To help lessen swelling, pain, and redness at the injection site, use a cool, wet towel.
- Soak in a cool sponge bath to lower fever.
- Consult your baby’s physician about giving them a non-aspirin pain reliever.
FAQs
Are vaccine side effects dangerous for infants?
The majority of vaccination side effects are not harmful. Every medication, including immunizations, has potential side effects. However, these adverse effects are typically mild.
Can I wait to vaccinate my newborn?
Delaying or spacing out vaccines offers no known benefits for children. In fact, it puts them at risk of developing diseases during the delay period.
Can getting so many vaccines at one time harm my baby?
Compared to the bacteria contained in vaccines, babies’ immune systems are stronger and they can withstand considerably more infections. The amount of germs in vaccines is just a small percentage of the germs babies’ immune systems deal with every day.
Reference
https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/COMBINED-VIS.pdf
https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/MMR-VACCINE.pdF
https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization#tab=tab_1
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fact-myth-immunizations.html
https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TB_BCG_baby_leaflet.pdf
https://iapindia.org/pdf/vaccine-information/TYPHOID-VACCINE.pdf