Childhood vaccination

Vaccination is the stimulation of the body's antibodies by infecting with weak forms of the disease. Usually, one injection or taking a drug is enough to develop strong immunity to the disease.

It is important to know that vaccination does not provide 100% protection against a particular disease. But vaccinations significantly reduce the likelihood of contracting a serious disease.

In modern medicine, there is a vaccine administration plan. Its effectiveness has been proven by numerous studies.

• First week - anti-tuberculosis vaccine (BCG). It is made from weakened microorganisms and grown in an artificial environment. Revaccination is carried out after determining the reaction to the Mantoux test (if the result is positive, additional examination is required). It is very important to stimulate the body to fight tuberculosis. The consequences of such a disease can be very serious. Repeated injections are required at 7, 12 and 17 years.
• Three months – vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio. These diseases have long lost their relevance in the civilized world, but have not been completely eliminated. Therefore, there is still a chance of getting sick with them. DPT allows you to avoid the risk of infection. Revaccination is necessary after 2 years.
• 1-1.5 years – injection against measles and mumps. These pathologies are difficult to treat and have a number of dangerous complications (meningitis, pancreatitis, myocarditis, nephritis, orchitis and other lesions of internal organs).

Supporters of mandatory vaccination cite, as an argument, a list of diseases that the vaccine protects against. All of them are associated with an increased risk of death, so it is vital for the child to gain the ability to effectively fight diseases.

Counterarguments of opponents of the introduction of antigenic materials are based on possible complications, examples of which are increasingly appearing in the media.

• Asthma, neurosis, autism, acute respiratory infections, diabetes mellitus. A popular unproven theory has appeared that these diseases occur after vaccinations. Although, according to statistics, the percentage of vaccinated children who become ill is approximately equal to the number of infections in unvaccinated children.
• Sudden infant death syndrome. In most cases of unexplained death of children, parents blame preventive injections. No relationship has been found between these tragic phenomena and vaccinations.
• Thimersal. It is believed that this component is toxic and is a mercury-based preservative. There is no evidence of the toxic effect of such an element (when used in the correct dosage).

Most often, the reaction to the injection manifests itself in the form of a slight increase in temperature, itching, redness or swelling. In rare cases, allergic reactions or rashes are observed. The baby begins to be capricious, loses appetite, becomes drowsy and lethargic. This is a normal reaction to antigens. The body begins to produce antibodies and fights the virus.

You should immediately seek medical help if the skin color has changed dramatically, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions are observed, or the temperature has risen above 38 ° C.

Both sides of the dispute agree that the child's body's reaction depends on several general factors.

1. Professionalism of doctors. Vaccination should be performed only in specialized institutions, with strict observance of storage and transportation standards.

2. Vaccine quality. This parameter can only be controlled by government agencies. The choice of manufacturer is under the control of the Ministry of Health.

3. General health. Before starting any treatment, the doctor must determine the degree of tolerance of the drug. Vaccination is no exception. The stronger the child's immunity, the easier it will be for him to tolerate the effects of weakened viruses.