Vaccination is very important for your child’s health and his/her subsequent growth into a healthy adult. There are various life-threatening diseases that can be prevented through appropriate and timely vaccination. It is essential because one of the major responsibilities of being a parent is to secure your child’s health and this can be effectively achieved through vaccination. There are fixed vaccination schedules as per pediatricians. Immunization from a whole host of diseases is possible with the help of vaccines.

Vaccination schedule

Vaccination schedules vary according to your state, the age of the child and his/her health prevalent conditions, the vaccines available and some other factors. Below given is a general schedule that is commonly followed by all parents and doctors. It is advisable to constantly keep in touch with your doctor for vaccination details till you secure your child’s immunity, firmly and irreversibly.

• 2 months old: DTP-Hib, Polio and PCV
• 3 months old: DTP-Hib, Polio and Meningitis C
• 4 months old: DTP-Hib, Polio, PCV and Meningitis C
• 12 to 15 months old: Hib, Meningitis C and MMR

(DTP-Hib: Diphtheria/Tetanus/Whooping Cough, Haemophilus Influenza type B, PCV: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, and MMR: Measles/Mumps/Rubella)

It is also advisable to be aware of the vaccines that will be given to your child along with their exact purpose and the positive effects that they will have on your child. You need to take your pediatrician’s advice and follow it strictly for a successful vaccination program. It is vital to follow the vaccination schedule because your child needs to be immunized at the appropriate age before a disease/illness hits him/her. Usually a child has a slight fever after any vaccine is administered. This is a positive sign that the body is reacting to the vaccine.

It is difficult for parents to see their child being administered vaccine after vaccine every few months or at regular intervals because it causes discomfort to their little one.

Here are a few tips that will help you deal with vaccination.

• Ask your doctor about what needs to be done after the vaccination is over.
• Get your child’s favorite toy to distract him/her during the administration of the injection.
• Ask your pediatrician if your baby can be given something to ease the pain. Do not decide on your own, always consult your doctor.
• Ask your doctor about the breast feeding schedule before and after the vaccination.
• When the injection is being administered, hold your child gently and encourage it to look at you so that the child is looking at a familiar face when the pain strikes.

Your child will definitely cry after the injection has been administered and may continue doing so for a couple of days but in the long run, vaccination is only going to protect him/her from deadly diseases. Happy parenting!!!