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Vaccines For Kids

1) What are Vaccines?
       Vaccines contain live or inactivated substances that give protection from infectious diseases

2) How are they administered?
      They are given by injections or orally.

3) How early they are given?
      Some of the vaccines like BCG, Hepatitis B and oral polio vaccine are given soon after birth.

4) How frequently they have to be given?
      They are usually given in 1 to 3 doses initiallyfollowed by a booster 6 to 12 months later. Some vaccines require periodic administration of booster every few years liketriple antigen & Typhoid.

5) Do vaccines give lifelong protections?
       No vaccine gives lifelong protection. Viral vaccines give longer protection compared to bacterial vaccines. Periodic boosters helps to prolong the protection.

6) What is the immunisation schedule to be followed?
       There are two types of schedules. One is the National Immunisation schedule which is by the Government of India, followed by the Government Hospitals. Due to financial constraints, many of the essential vaccines are not included in this schedule.Second one is by IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) which is followed by the Private Health Sector and this includes all the essential vaccines.

7) What is the Immunisation schedule to be followed?
       IAP recommendation is followed in Private Health Sector.

8) What are routine vaccines & vaccines given under special circumstances?
       Routine vaccines have to be given to all children.Other vaccines are given for high risk children like those with defective immunity and under special circumstances like following dog bite or following outbreaks(Cholera / Brain fever).

IAP Schedule (Routine use)

Age	Vaccine
Birth	BCG Oral Polio Vaccine - 0 Hepatitis B - 1
6 Weeks	DPT (Diphtheria / Pertussis / Tetanus) Polio Injection (IPV) Hepatitis B – 2 H. Influenzae Injection (HIB) - 1 Oral Rotavirus Vaccine - 1 Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) - 1
10 Weeks	DPT - 2 IPV - 2 HIB - 2 Rotavirus - 2 PCV - 2
14 Weeks	DPT - 3 IPV - 3 HIB - 3 Rotavirus - 3 PCV - 3
6 Months	Oral Polio Vaccine - 1 Hepatitis B - 3
9 Months	Oral Polio Vaccine - 2 MMR - 1
9 to 12 Months	Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine
12 Months	Hepatitis - A Injection 1 (One dose if live vaccine is used)
15 Months	MMR - 2 Chickenpox Vaccine (Varicella) - 1 PCV Booster

Vaccines under Special Circumstances

Influenza Vaccine => With outbreaks of swine flu happening every year it is advisable to give yearly injections though it is not recommended for routine use Rabies Vaccine => Given following a dog bite.Japanese encephalitis & Cholera Vaccines are given following an
outbreak.

9) What should be done if vaccines are missed?
    If vaccines have got missed due to unavoidable reasons,it is better to catch up and complete the schedule.

10) Can vaccine be given if child has fever or cold?
        Vaccine need not be postponed if the child has cold butshould be delayed if the child has fever.

11) Is the vaccine schedule which we follow is customised to India
or entire world?
      The schedule which we follow in India is customised to our Nation.

12) Why few vaccines are optional where as others are compulsory?
         As per the 2014 recommendation by IAP, all the vaccines listed in the schedule are Compulsory. Though some of the listed vaccines (Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Human Papilloma Virus) are given only after one to one discussion due to the cost.

13) Does vaccine cause allergy?
       Allergy due to vaccine is very rare but life threateningwhen it occurs. It is seen in a person who is allergic to the substance present in vaccine preparations. It is always advisable to have the vaccination in a Hospital or Clinic where medicines to tackle such emergency is available.

14) What is Pulse Polio?
        Pulse Polio is a programme launched by the Governmentof India to eradicate Polio. Every year on two days in the  months of January and February, polio drops is administered to
all children less than five years of age.

15) Is there any way to reduce the cost of vaccine?
      Vaccine cost can be cut down if they can be patented and manufactured in our Country due to the exorbitant cost of import.

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