For many new parents, joy of their new born disappears when they witness their baby being vaccinated. Is it necessary to undertake the strenuous deadlines of vaccine regimes which begin shortly after the day your child is born? Can we not be easy on their tender skin and avoid the many crying sessions, which are a sure dislike to your ears as well? Why vaccinate at all, if it gives pain (although temporary) to your child? These must be some of the questions running in your mind when your first child was born. With time, you would have understood the significance of vaccinating your child, thanks to the doctor’s answers to your queries. While you cannot prevent all diseases by using vaccines, most of the diseases can be prevented through their respective vaccinations.
What is a vaccination?
Vaccination is basically introduction of an antigen into body to create immunity for a specific disease (for which the vaccination is meant). It is an adaptive immunity wherein the probability of acquiring a particular disease is reduced to minimum or nil. Vaccination has its origin which dates back to ancient Chinese and Indian civilization, where smallpox was prevented by using scabs from infectious persons. History proves that many people died due to many deadly diseases, which now can be prevented through vaccination. Realizing the significance, researchers have successfully created vaccines for combating a large number of diseases which have earlier been a cause of concern for humanity. Researchers are trying to get a breakthrough, to prepare vaccines for deadly diseases like the HIV and malaria as well.
Why is the vaccination needed?
Prevention is better than cure. We live in a world which is exposed with dangerous chemicals, pollution, and other harmful dietary products. Vaccination protects our body and immunizes it against some deadly diseases. Bearing the pain for some time can make us free from infections and uninvited diseases in the long run. Vaccination is a sure shot remedy for a longer and pain free life. Many vaccinations protect us from contagious diseases as well and we can face the crowd without fear. Vaccination proves cheaper monetarily than treating the disease after getting it.
When should the vaccination be administered?
Vaccination starts soon after the birth of the baby. This stretches as long as 10 to 12 years. After the birth of a child, the doctor provides a list of all the vaccinations to be given to the child. The list is very methodical and gives a detailed instruction of the particular vaccination and at what age it should be done. Parents have to just follow it timely. These vaccines are age-specific. The natural conditions of your country also determine the type of vaccination mostly desired for your child. Some of the other vaccines can be taken at any time, depending on the situations. For example, if you are traveling to a particular country which is threatened by a particular disease, you need to take the vaccine.
What can be done to reduce the pain that accompanies vaccination?
Some Vaccines bring along pain, as a syringe is used to inject into the skin. It is depressing to witness a small baby being injected and unable to take the pain on his delicate and soft skin. However, as parents, we need to be strong and not give up vaccinating our child because of the temporary pain he/she undergoes.
1.Try distracting his/her attention, while he/she is being injected.
2. Also doctors must use a special syringe which may ease out the pain.
3. You may give painkillers to your child, but only after consulting the doctor or use home remedies like massaging the area softly or putting cold ice on the area to ease out pain.
