Global/African Vaccination Week, 24 - 30 April

Why you should vaccinate your babies 

As parents we all want the very best for our children. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they get vaccinated against a range of diseases, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Taking control of your health with GEMS
At the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) we encourage our members to take care of themselves and their family's health by ensuring they immunise their children. Global/African Vaccination Week will be held during 24-30 April and this article forms part of the GEMS commitment to providing our members with information and support in order to help them and their families live a healthy life.

Why vaccinate?
Although most babies are born with protection against certain diseases, which they get from antibodies from their mother's placenta, and build up resistance against diseases as they become exposed to them, this protection is not sufficient when it comes to certain diseases. To protect against these, children should be vaccinated.

Vaccinations help eliminate diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children. One example of the great impact vaccines can have relates to polio, a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. As a result of the Global Polio Eradication campaign, "polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases then, to 650 reported cases in 2011", reports the World Health Organization.

Immunisations can also save your family time and money, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be kept out of schools or daycare facilities. A prolonged illness can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills, or long-term disability care. In comparison, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance," it observes. 

What are vaccinations?
Vaccinations are a way of creating immunity by injecting certain weakened diseased bacteria or viruses into the body. The immune system responds by producing antibodies to prevent any future infections of the same disease.

Where do I go to have my child vaccinated?
Your local clinic, paediatrician or community health centre.

How much do vaccinations cost?
They are free.

What type of vaccines should your baby get and when?

Source: Department of Health

What should I take with when I get my baby vaccinated?
When you take your child to a clinic or paediatrician for vaccinations bring your Road-to-Health chart with you. This 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 the vaccinations it has had.

Keep the chart in a safe place, as you will need it when your little baby goes to primary school.

Are there any side affects?
"Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent," advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The area of the injection may bleed slightly, in such a case dab on petroleum jelly to prevent bleeding and soothe the area.
Should your child show severe signs and symptoms of fever, convulsions or allergic reaction consult your doctor immediately.

Should your child show severe signs and symptoms of fever, convulsions or allergic reaction consult your doctor immediately.

References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/CDCFiveReasonstoVaccinateYourChild.pdf
KidsHealth: http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/immunizations/vaccine.html 
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/
Department of Health: http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/vaccinations.pdf