Must have vaccine for child’s first 12 months

Most vaccinations are given to protect us against diseases caused by viruses. Viruses are germs, and they are extremely tiny. If they infect or get into our body, and multiply, that’s make us sick. So what is a must have vaccine for baby from birth and beyond.

WHAT ARE VACCINES?

A vaccine is usually a small amount of liquid that contains dead or weakened versions of a virus or other type of germ. Weakened viruses can still multiply within the body but cannot cause disease. Vaccines can also contain tiny amounts of harmful substances, called toxins, which are made by the viruses. But they don’t have enough toxin to make you sick.

Some vaccines are oral, which means you can eat them or drink them. However, the powerful digestive juices in your stomach would destroy most vaccines. So vaccines are usually given by shot.

Why shots are important

Chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, you may have heard of these childhood illness, but probably we don’t have any idea how they look like. Even some medical practitioner don’t come close than a picture in a medical book. Vaccination is reason behind why these illness become only distant medical memory.

What vaccine to get and when

Vaccine shots became more effective if given at the right time. Also, coming up with the best immunization schedule, an age consideration is vital, age-specific risks for disease, age-specific risks for complications, and age-specific immune system response to vaccine. By following the specific schedule, surely your child gets the best possible protection  against diseases.

Another reason why it is important to stick on given vaccination schedule is because; Study shows, a child is become less protected against illness cause by viruses if they fall behind schedule.

Below are the list of must have vaccines of child from the date of birth up to one year old.

• ·         BCG – one dose only given as early after birth
• ·         Hepatitis B – total of three doses, one dose given at birth within twenty four hours.
• ·         Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) – Total of four doses
• ·        Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) – Total of five doses, three dose in the first year
• ·         Measles (AMV) – one dose, given at nine months
• ·     Measles, mumps, Rubella (MMR) – total of two doses, the first dose given at first twelve months
• ·        Hib – total of four doses, three in the first year.
• ·         Rotavirus – total of three doses
• ·         Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) – total of four dose, three in the first year.
• ·         Varicella – Chicken pox immunization
• ·         Hepatitis A – one dose given on first year
• ·         Meningococcal Vaccine
• ·          Influenza – against respiratory tract infection

BCG Vaccine

The BCG vaccine is one dose only and given as early after birth. This vaccine help protect your newborn against tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a serious infection that usually attacks the lungs.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Given a total of three doses, one dose usually give at birth within twenty four hours and the second dose should be given between one and four months and the last shot given between six and eighteen months.

Hepatitis B vaccine protects your little one against Hepatitis B, a liver disease that spread through contact with the body fluids from infected person. These infection will leads to liver cancer or a serious problems like cirrhosis.

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) 

Pediatricians recommend four doses of the oral polio vaccine – one dose at first month, another dose at two months, third shot be given between four and eighteen months, and the final dose between four years old and six years old.

Oral Polio Vaccine protects your baby against polio, a disease that has caused paralysis in millions of children around the world. Polio is caused by virus that transfer mainly through contact with feces from infected person.

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) Vaccine

Total of five doses, three dose given in child’s first twelve months, at two, four, and six months, followed by a booster between fifteenth and eighteen months and another booster between four and six years old.

This vaccine protects your child against three diseases; Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus.

Diptheria - a serious infectious disease, caused by a bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, that attacks the membranes of the throat and releases a toxin that damages the heart and the nervous system. The main symptoms are fever, weakness, and severe inflammation of the affected membranes.

Pertussis  - also known as whooping cough is an infectious bacterial disease that causes violent coughing spasms followed by sharp, shrill inhalations. It mainly affects children. Latin name: Bordetella pertussis Technical name pertussis.

Tetanus - an acute infectious disease, usually contracted through a penetrating wound, that causes severe muscular spasms and contractions, especially around the neck and jaw. The spasms are caused by a toxin released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.

Measles (AMV) Vaccine

A dose of measles vaccine help protect your child against measles virus, usually it be given at child’s ninth months.

Measlesis a contagious acute viral disease with symptoms that include a bright red rash of small spots that spread to cover the whole body. A small white spots, known as Koplik's spots, appear in the mouth on the inside of the cheeks a few days before the rash appears and can be used in diagnosis.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

The first dose of the MMR combo vaccine shall only be given as a gift right after the child’s first birthday. Followed by another dose which be give between four and six years old. Once your little one acquire it, the vaccine will protect your baby against three contagious diseases; Measles, Mumps, and Rubella also know as German measles. All of these three diseases can bring serious complications which may include, pneumonia, encephalitis, and meningitis.

Measles – please refer to above definition

Mumps – is an acute contagious disease, usually affecting children, that causes a fever with swelling of the salivary glands and sometimes also affects the pancreas and ovaries or testes. It is caused by a virus and can be prevented through vaccination. It may cause sterility if contracted by a man.

Rubella - also know as German measles. A highly contagious viral disease, especially affecting children, that causes swelling of the lymph glands and a reddish pink rash on the skin. It can be harmful to the unborn baby of a pregnant woman who contracts it.

Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib) Vaccine

 A total of four doses is recomended, three in the first year, given at two, four, and six months follow by final dose between twelve and fifteen months. Sometimes your pediatrician will skip the six month dose. Once your baby acquire it, the vaccine will protect your baby against Hemophiliacs Influenza type B Disease.

In the late 1980s Hib used to be the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in child's under five years old. These illness spreads by air through cough, sneeze, and even breath from the infected child. If the bacteria gets into the lungs, it can spread to the brain and other organs that cause serious and permanent damage on brain.

Rotavirus Vaccine

Depending on the brand, ussualy your kids get two oral shot at two and four months. However, for brand that requires three oral shot, first shot is given at two, followed by four, and final dose at six months. Rotavirus vaccine helps protect your kids from contagious intestinal virus that spread through contact of contaminated objects and even through airborn. The disease infect nearly all kids with age group of five.

Rotavirus is a wheel-shaped RNA virus that causes gastroenteritis, especially in infants.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)

Your child will probably get a total of four doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine. First dose be give at two, followed by another dose at four, next would be at six, and again final dose should be give between child’s twelve and fifteen months.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine will immunizes your child against the seven different strains of the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause serious illness such as pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections. The infections spread through person to person contact.

Varicella Vaccine

A dose of varicella vaccine will helps your child to keep away from chicken pox disease.

Varicella virus is also know as chicken pox. A highly infectious viral disease, especially affecting children, characterized by a rash of small itching blisters on the skin and mild fever. Technical name varicella.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

One dose be given to a child reaching twelve months. Once acquire, it helps child to keep away from hepatitis A disease.

A hepatitis A is a relatively mild form of hepatitis that is caused by a virus and transmitted through contaminated food and water.

Influenza Vaccine

Doctors recommend the flu vaccine every year around rainy season for child's from six months and beyond. A two shot is needed for the first time vaccine which has at least at a distance of a month. And then follow by one dose every year.

Influenza is a viral illness that lead to a high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, headache, dry cough, and muscle pain. The illness is widespread, especially during rainy months, and can sometimes be fatal for babies.