As a parent, you may be concerned about your children’s vaccinations, even for rarely existing diseases. But you might not understand that the technicalities of following immunization schedules matter a lot for their safety. Learn 7 things every parent should know about vaccines and vaccinations in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
7 Things every parent should know about vaccines and vaccinations
Vaccines and vaccinations are some of the best preventive measures for infectious conditions and diseases that can cause outbreaks. However, there are certain things you should consider as parents about vaccines and vaccinations:
- What are vaccines and are they safe for children?
Ans. Vaccines are medical products/solutions/serums made (usually by inactivated virus strains) to boost the body’s natural defenses so that your body can fight the disease quickly and effectively.
Yes, all vaccines are safe to use because vaccines first get tested fully by government officials and later approved by the FDA for public use. Currently, the United States produces the safest vaccine supply in history which helps millions of children in terms of safety every year. The most common minor side effects may be pain or swelling at the injection site.
- How many types of vaccines are available to use?
Ans. There are several types of vaccines available to use, including:
- Attenuated (weakened) live germs: These vaccines contain weakened virus germs that create antibodies in the body to protect you from diseases. It is found in vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and chickenpox vaccines.
- Killed (inactivated) germs: These vaccines contain inactivated germs of viruses which produce antibodies in the body to protect you from diseases like flu.
- Toxoid vaccines: These vaccines contain an inactivated toxin (harmful chemical) made by the virus strain. For example, the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines are created this way.
- Conjugate vaccines:These vaccines contain small pieces of the germ combined with proteins that can trigger a strong immune response. Many vaccines are made this way including hepatitis B, HPV, whooping cough, and meningitis.
- mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines: These vaccines use a piece of the germ’s RNA, which is a part of its genetic material. These vaccines are used in certain COVID-19 vaccinations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids should get a combination of vaccines (rather than single vaccines) whenever possible because it can lower the number of shots a child gets and make them safe. As a baby is born, their immune system gets exposed to countless germs every day. Their immune system can handle some combination of vaccines easily.
- What vaccines are recommended by AAP for your children?
Ans. According to AAP recommendation, here are some right vaccinations for your child:
- Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
- Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine
- Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
- Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- Influenza (flu) vaccine
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
- Meningococcal (MenACWY, MenB) vaccines
- Pneumococcal (PCV13, PPSV23) vaccines
- Polio (IPV) vaccine
- Rotavirus (RV) vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine
- Dengue vaccine
- Why do our kids need vaccines for diseases like mumps, polio, etc. which are rare?
Ans. As a parent, you need to understand that these diseases are rare in your country. It is still thriving in other parts of the world. People (like immigrants or travelers) can bring these viruses back to the U.S. So, without the protection of vaccines, these diseases can be transmitted easily again here.
- What common side effects of vaccines can you expect after a dose?
Ans. You can expect side effects like soreness at the injection site, fussiness, or a low-grade fever. Keep in mind that these side effects are mild and only last a couple of days and are treatable as well. For example, to reduce soreness, you can apply a cold washcloth on that area or manage the fever with over the counter (OTC) medications.
- Does giving multiple vaccines to babies overload their immune systems?
Ans. According to many studies that evaluated the safety of multiple vaccines, no issue was found to cause a problem when multiple vaccines were tested. Because children are exposed to many foreign substances every day and rarely show any harmful effects. Scientists say that a tiny number of viruses or bacteria is not harmful to your child. However, what is harmful is delaying a child’s vaccines needlessly.
- Is there any link between vaccines and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
Ans. The answer is no because no evidence has been found that shows that vaccines are associated with the cause of SIDS. Recommendations were developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths in infants up to 12 months old. They suggest your child needs to be fully immunized to lower the risk of SIDS.
As a parent, you are always worried about your kid’s health. But you need to understand that mild side effects of the vaccines are not as dangerous as the serious diseases that can cause severe complications. That’s why you must ensure that your child gets all the necessary vaccinations that boost their immunity against those diseases. So, consult with your doctor to create immunization schedules so that your child gets all necessary vaccinations on time.
If you need help with the immunization schedule for your child, call us to get a consultation with our infectious specialist or you can visit our clinic in Brooklyn for medical support. Doral Health and Wellness has several urgent care clinics around New York that can cater to your family’s medical needs. We also have the best medical providers, physicians and staff that are highly trained in their respective specialties. To know more about the locations of our urgent care clinics, you can visit us at Doral Health and Wellness. If you are looking for urgent care near you, you can visit Doral Health and Wellness Urgent Care. We provide urgent care for common illnesses and injuries. Additionally, we also provide comprehensive care for any related injuries and health problems. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. For more info, visit us or call 1-347-384-5690.
