Vaccines are designed to prevent babies from any possible serious illnesses like the flu, measles, mumps, polio or tetanus. Vaccination is considered to be a crucial aspect of a child's growth and development. Doctors and parents lay a great stress on the vaccination schedule of a baby. Pediatricians give a vaccination schedule that indicates the vaccines that are compulsory for a baby and the time at which they are to be administered.
What is a Vaccine?
Vaccines are made with weakened or killed versions of the bacteria/virus that are responsible for causing a disease. When these vaccines are injected into the body, it enables the body to produce antibodies to tackle the bacteria. This results in the immunization of the body to the bacteria/virus of a particular type. Immunization of the baby through vaccination drastically eliminates the chances of the baby contracting the disease.
The pediatrician issues a schedule suggesting the name of the vaccine and the time/age at which it is to be administered to the baby. There are a number of vaccines that should be administered to a child. Some of these are:
#1 BCG
The Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine prevents the baby from contracting tuberculosis. This is a mandatory vaccine to be administered.
#2 Hepatitis B
This vaccine protects the baby from hepatitis B that causes the liver disease, hepatitis. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver that leads to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. This is an optional vaccine to be administered within 12 hours from birth.
#3 DPT
This vaccine is administered to a baby to prevent diphtheria, tetanus and whooping-cough. Diphtheria causes severe breathing problems or heart failure. Tetanus causes stiffness of muscles. It is a mandatory vaccine to be administered to the baby without fail.
#4 HiB
This vaccine prevents the baby from Haemophilus influenza type B that leads to pneumonia, meningitis and epiglottitis. This is an optional vaccine.
#5 Influenza
This vaccine prevents the baby from contracting seasonal flu. This is an optional vaccine to be administered when the baby complete six months of age.
#6 OPV
This vaccine prevents the disease polio that leads to damage of the nervous system, muscle weakness or paralysis. It is a compulsory vaccine.
#7 Rotavirus
This vaccine is given orally to the baby and protects against rotavirus that causes severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting and dehydration. This is an optional vaccine.
#8 MMR
This vaccine prevents the baby from contracting measles, mumps and rubella. It is a mandatory vaccine.
#9 Hepatitis A
This is an optional vaccine to prevent from the Hepatitis A virus that causes liver infection.
#10 Typhoid
A mandatory vaccine that prevents from typhoid fever.
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