Birth to 5 Years Baby Vaccinations - Precautions & Booster Dose Importance

Baby vaccine dose might seem like Khatron Ka Khiladi for you and your child. As a parent, one of the most important things you will do for your child is to have her vaccinated against deadly diseases. By doing this in a timely fashion, you are protecting your child against several severe conditions – it is better to be safe than sorry, isn't it? But today with so many vaccinations being prescribed by the doctor it is really confusing for parents as to which ones are important and which vaccinations can be avoided.

In this blog, I try to answer all your queries starting from the most prominent one

What Vaccinations Should My Child Get?

With the stress of everyday life, you may have forgotten or delayed a couple of scheduled vaccinations. There is an immunization card that is given at the time you take your baby home after birth. We strongly recommend that you follow the schedule. Here's a basic vaccination chart for your reference. [Check More - 0-18 Months Baby Vaccination & Immunization Chart & What You Care]

Abbreviation's used: OPV: oral polio vaccine, IPV: intravenous polio vaccine, HEP B: hepatitis B, B1: first booster dose, B2: second booster dose, PCV: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, TT: tetanus toxoid.

What Care Should I Take When My Child Has Vaccinations?

After your child has had her vaccinations, here are a few things that you might observe, and can take care of at home:

1. Swelling: Post-vaccination, your child might have some swelling at the site of the shot. Apply an ice pack to soothe her. But avoid applying ice directly to the site as it can further irritate the skin already inflamed. Instead, rub the ice between your palms and gently pat the site until she feels relaxed. Repeat this 2 – 3 times a day
2. Fever: A fever is a common occurrence post some vaccinations. If your child has had one of those vaccines, your pediatrician might prescribe fever medication before you leave the clinic. However, make sure you give only the necessary dosage. Is a fever an indicator of the vaccine being effective? No! Remember that not all vaccines cause a fever
3. Mama, I need attention!: Getting a shot is a painful affair for your child, not just the physical pain, but the overall experience. So offer a lot of comforts when you're back home. Give in to her demands for attention and do some fun activities together.
4. District: The key is to distract her from the "big monster" looming in her mind – the injection. Listen to some music together, and if she feels up to it, dance a little! Snuggle up with her favorite picture books and tell her stories. Visit grandparents or close friends if possible. She will soon forget all about the shot!
5. I'm not hungry!: Losing appetite post vaccinations is quite normal. But don't let your child stay without eating for a long time. Offer small snacks or light meals, and keep her hydrated by giving her lots of fluids. Make her favorite smoothie or a glass of Lassi. If your child is breastfed, feed her at regular intervals. This not only keeps her hydrated but offers much-needed comfort and security
6. Let her rest: Don't force your child to keep moving if she's in pain or her upper thigh (where the shot was given) is swollen. You need to be concerned about her mobility only if she seems to be having difficulty even two days post the vaccination
7. Painless vaccines and combination shots: When you make a visit for vaccinations, speak to the pediatrician about painless vaccinations and combination shots. Sometimes, a couple of different vaccines are available as combination shots, which will help reduce the discomfort (lesser shots = lesser discomfort, right?)

Vaccines That May Cause Fever In My Child

Some vaccines can cause your child to experience mild discomfort and fever. This happens because the vaccine contains a weakened form of the virus that causes the illness. The fever is a sign that your child's immune system is working against it and making antibodies. Some of the vaccines that can cause fever are:

1. DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis)
2. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

These symptoms usually disappear in a day. Do see a pediatrician under the following circumstance-

1. The fever or swelling lasts for more than 2 days
2. Your baby is younger than 3 months and the fever is 100.4F or higher
3. Vomiting, rashes or any signs of pain in the head, abdomen or limbs
4. Your child looks very ill - Emergency
5. Seizures or fits or convulsions – Emergency
6. Allergic reaction like hives – Emergency
7. If you notice a bulging fontanelle (a fontanelle is a soft spot on your baby's head) – Emergency

Why Are Some Vaccines Important Than Others?

In addition to the vaccines mentioned above, here are some common ones that are very important for your child because they protect your child from deadly and life-altering diseases like polio-

1. Influenza vaccine: Before the start of the flu season every year, make sure your child (and you, as parents) get vaccinated against this disease. Children who are younger than 5 years old are especially at high risk for contracting the flu
2. PCV vaccine: This protects against bacterial infections caused by the pneumococcal bacteria. Illnesses include dangerous ones such as meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia
3. Meningococcal vaccine: Protects your child against bacterial infections such as meningitis and septicemia.

Why Are Booster Shots of Vaccines Important For My Child?

Sometimes just one shot isn't sufficient to protect your child against a certain infection. His immune system needs another "booster" shot at a certain time to know that it needs to fight the infections. Here are some things to keep in mind about booster shots:

1. Some children need an additional shot of the vaccine like MMR to build immunity against these infections
2. Boosters help build immunity if your child didn't develop it with the first shot
3. Sometimes, like in the case of anti-tetanus vaccines, the immunity to the infection reduces over a period of time, and hence it needs a booster

Remember that needles do come with a little pain and discomfort that cannot be avoided. Whenever possible, while heading for her shots, take another person whom your child is comfortable with, apart from you. Another good idea is to take her favorite stuffed toy along. It will make your child feel more secure. While you cannot take on your child's pain, you can do your best to comfort her!

Are your child's vaccinations up to date? Let us know if this blog helped you. Share your feedback and thoughts in the comments section below!