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Description
When you get an infection, your body reacts by producing substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight the disease and help you get over the illness. The antibodies usually stay in your system and help protect you from getting the same disease again. This process is called immunity.
Although newborn babies are immune to many diseases (because they have their mother's antibodies), that immunity wears off during the first year of life. To assure continuous protection against diseases, we need to vaccinate (immunize) children and adults.
First, the germs that cause the disease (killed or weakened viruses, bacterial molecules, or inactivated toxins) are made into vaccines. Then these vaccines are given to children either orally (drops) or intramuscularly ("a shot"). These vaccines fool the body into thinking it is under attack by the disease and the body reacts by producing antibodies. Consequently, when the person is exposed to the actual disease, they are protected.
Childhood Immunization
Children should be vaccinated against the following nine diseases:
Diphtheria: The bacterium involved in this disease releases a toxin that can damage the membranes of the nose and throat and, in severe cases, the heart muscle. Immunization is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months and 4-6 years of age.
Pertussis, or whooping cough: This is an inflammation of the entire respiratory tract that causes severe coughing, making it hard to breathe, eat and drink. It can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage and death. Immunization is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years of age.
Tetanus, or lockjaw: This occurs when soil-dwelling bacteria get into a puncture wound and produce a toxin that attacks the nervous system. Immunization is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years of age.
Poliomyelitis (Polio): Polio is a viral infection that could, if not treated, cause muscle pain and paralysis of one or both legs or arms. It also may paralyze the muscles used to breath and swallow. Immunization is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years of age.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): Measles is a viral infection that causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. It can also cause ear infections and pneumonia, as well as serious problems such as brain swelling and even death.
Mumps is a viral infection that causes fever, headache and painful swelling of one or both of the major salivary glands. It also can lead to meningitis, brain swelling and swollen testicles.
Rubella, also called German measles, is a viral infection that causes a slight fever, rash and swelling of the glands in the neck.
Immunization is recommended at 12 to 15 months and 11 to 12 years of age. Note: the second MMR can be given at 4 to 6 years of age.
Hepatitis B: This is a type of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a viral infection. It can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and death. Immunization is recommended at birth, 2 months and 6 to 18 months of age.
Hemophilus influenza type b infection: This organism causes meningitis, acute epiglottitis, pneumonia, septic arthritis and cellulitis in children. Immunization is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 to 15 months of age.
Adequate immunization against these nine diseases requires about five visits to a doctor during the first two years of life. Approximately 80 percent of the vaccines needed to fully immunize a child should be given at these visits.
Note: Chickenpox vaccine is not mentioned as a required immunization. Please consult your doctor regarding whether your child should or shouldn't be immunized.
Risks Of Immunizations
Compared to the diseases these vaccines inoculate against, the risks (reactions) are mild.
Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTP): The area where the shot was given may be swollen and red. The child may also have a fever for a day or two and be fussy and sleepy. Very rarely this vaccination can cause some serious problems such as a seizure.
Polio (OPV/IPV): OPV vaccination very rarely can cause polio in a child who is vaccinated as well as a person who is in close contact with the vaccinated child. IPV doesn't seem to have a risk of causing polio.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): The most common side effects are fever, measles-like rash, swelling of the lymph glands and mild pain in the joints.
Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hemophilus influenza type b infection (Hib): No serious side effects have been found. There may be some soreness, slight fever and fussiness with the Hib vaccination.
Adult Immunization
Some 50,000 to 70,000 people die of influenza, pneumonia and hepatitis B in the U.S. every year. About half those deaths could be prevented by vaccination. But among the very people who are most at risk (older adults and high-risk adult groups), 60 percent do not get an annual flu shot, 80 percent are not immunized against pneumonia and 90 percent have not received the hepatitis B vaccine.
Older people should be routinely immunized, since immunity declines with age. According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter (October 1994) pneumonia and influenza are the fifth (5th) leading causes of death in people age 65 and older.
Adults should be vaccinated against the following nine diseases:
Pneumonia: This is an inflammation of the lungs, due to infection, that results in chest pain, chills, cough, high fever and difficulty in breathing. Immunization is recommended only once.
Influenza: The flu is a viral infection that can cause chills, fatigue, fever, weakness, severe muscle aches and a hacking cough. Immunization is recommended annually.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): Measles is a viral infection that causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. It also can cause ear infections and pneumonia, as well as serious problems such as brain swelling and even death.
Mumps is a viral infection that causes fever, headache and painful swelling of one or both of the major salivary glands. It also can lead to meningitis, brain swelling and swollen testicles.
Rubella, also called German measles, is a viral infection that causes a slight fever, a rash and swelling of the glands in the neck. Immunization is recommended once. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated, and women should be advised not to become pregnant during the three (3) months following vaccination.
Hepatitis A: This is a type of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis A is thought to be spread by virus from an infected person's feces directly or indirectly contaminating food, drinking water or someone else's hands. Immunization is recommended once.
Hepatitis B: A type of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted sexually, or spread by mechanisms in which an infected person's blood is inoculated into someone else. Immunization is recommended once.
Tetanus/Diphtheria: Tetanus occurs when soil-dwelling bacteria get into a puncture wound and produce a toxin that attacks the nervous system.
Diphtheria occurs when the bacterium involved in this disease releases a toxin that can damage the membranes of the nose and throat and, in severe cases, the heart muscle. Immunization is recommended every 10 years.
Note: Chickenpox vaccine is recommended for anyone age 13 and older who has not had chickenpox.
Summation
- Know your family's immunization status. If their medical records are incomplete, a blood test can usually determine immunity.
- Maintain a comprehensive list of the family's immunizations. Parents should keep a set of records for each child.
- Remember: staying fully vaccinated can help prevent serious, even fatal, illness - especially among young children, older people and those who have weakened immunity.
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