Vaccinate your child!

In a study of more than 17 000 US children between the ages of 19 and 35 months, researchers at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that 28 percent had either missed a dose of a recommended vaccine altogether, or had gotten doses at the wrong age or at wrong intervals.

For childhood vaccines to be most effective, they must be given at particular ages and specific intervals. For example, children should get their first MMR shot against measles, mumps and rubella no earlier than 12 months of age, but before they are 15 months old; a second dose should be given when they are between four and six years old.

Since 2002 in South Africa the state has immunised at least 80 percent of children under the age of one year.  Vaccines are one of the most important strategies on offer to help prevent infectious diseases. In the past, before vaccines, many children died or had severe complications following infections.

The human body has a natural immune system, which is acquired by the unborn child from its mother. Further immunity from various diseases is acquired either from exposure to, and recovery from these infections, or through immunisation. The body produces antibodies to that infection, which remain in the tissues as part of the body's immune system, which is able to "remember" these infectious organisms. These anti-bodies combat subsequent invasions of the same disease.

Vaccination programmes are extremely effective in controlling some dangerous diseases.  According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the efforts of the national immunisation programmes in South Africa contributed to the fact that there were only 14 confirmed incidents of measles reported on between January and September last year.
Vaccine facts:

• Vaccines contain proteins (antigens), which come from the micro-organisms that cause the diseases they are aimed at preventing.
• Some vaccines contain whole micro-organisms that are killed or are altered so as not to cause disease.
• These then stimulate the body into producing antibodies and special white cells that will fight the infection if it appears in the future.
• There are two main types of vaccine namely:

Live 'attenuated' vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis - polio)
 
These are solutions of the micro-organisms which have been altered in such a way as to render them incapable of producing the original disease, but capable of stimulating an immune response.

These are the most successful types of vaccines, generally providing life-long protection. 

Killed vaccines (Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza).

These are solutions of dead micro-organisms which can still produce an immune response.

They include inactivated bacterial toxoids (such as tetanus), whole or partial virus preparations (such as flu) and proteins made by recombinant DNA technology (for example Hep B).

They require a primary course of immunisation, usually two to three injections spaced at intervals.

• Often a booster immunisation is needed approximately every five years if immunity is to be maintained.
• These vaccines have been grouped together so that they can be conveniently received at regular intervals.
• The different vaccines do not interfere with one another and there is no increased risk of serious side effects when they are given at the same time.

• When you take your baby to the clinic or paediatrician for vaccinations make sure you have your Road-to-Health chart with you.
• This chart will be provided to you when your baby goes for his or her first immunisation. All the baby's health details are recorded on this chart, e.g. birth weight, height and Apgar score. Each time your baby is vaccinated, the information will be added to this chart.
• Keep the chart in a safe place, as you will need it when your little baby goes to "big" school.

• Side effects are both unusual and mild - if you are concerned when your baby is showing severe signs and symptoms of fever, convulsions or allergic reaction, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
• Most babies are not affected at all.

• Your baby will probably be upset afterwards - so be prepared to give her or him a feed at the clinic immediately afterwards (breast or bottle). It may not be a full feed, but it will comfort the baby.
• The area of the injection may also bleed slightly - just dab on petroleum jelly to stop the blood and it will also soothe the area. You can repeat this for a day or two if it looks a little red.

South African vaccination/immunisation schedule

BCG = bacillus Calmette-Guérin (tuberculosis) vaccine
OPV = oral polio vaccine
DTP = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
DT = diphtheria, tetanus vaccine
HBV = hepatitis B vaccine
Hib = Haemophilus influenza group b (meningitis) vaccine
MMR = mumps, measles and rubella (German measles)
South Africa's recommended Childhood Vaccination Schedule is adopted from the World Health Organisation (WHO). These vaccines are available free of charge at local clinics and community health centres.