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A vaccine is a shot that contains a tiny amount of the disease-causing germ. However, unlike an active germ that can make you sick, the germ in the vaccine is passive (i.e. weakened or killed in a lab). This allows your body to respond to the germ by making antibodies. Antibodies are a part of the immune system. Their job is to “remember” the germ so that if your body ever comes into contact with the germ again, your immune system will be equipped to fight and defeat the germ.
Being protected in this way is called having immunity towards a disease. When properly and promptly given, vaccines can offer long term if not lifelong immunity. In some cases, even if you have been immunised against a disease, you might still catch a mild form of it. However, having a mild illness is definitely easier to handle than becoming very ill and possibly even dying from the infection.
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| 2. How can I prepare my child for a shot? |
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The following may make the whole process easier on everyone:
• Tell an older child what’s going to happen. Be honest that there may be a slight sting. Be sure to explain why he/ she is getting that shot (for protection against a dangerous illness)
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Hold a younger child still. Ask him/ her to be brave if he/ she can. But make it clear that it is okay to cry
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Ensure that you are calm too. If you are jittery, you may make your child feel worse
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Use any distraction that you think will be helpful at the precise moment of the injection. Ask the child to sing a song or point to a colourful poster on the wall
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Praise the child once the shot is over
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Give the child a reward, such as a favourite character sticker or a visit to the playground.
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| 3. Will my child have a severe reaction to a shot? |
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It is difficult to say because each child is different. Serious reactions are very rare and vaccines do much more good than harm. Vaccines are licensed for use only after they have been through a rigorous battery of tests and clinical trials. However, do be wary, especially if your child starts behaving oddly after getting a shot.
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| 4. What does a severe reaction to a vaccine look like? |
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Watch closely for the following:
• Unusually high fever
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Behaviour changes
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Dizziness
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Allergic reactions such as hives, difficulty breathing and/ or fast heart rate
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Seizures (very rare) |
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| 5. What should I do if my child has a severe reaction? |
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Get immediate medical attention. Inform the doctor about the type of vaccination received, the date it was given and other related details.
If a child has a serious reaction, check with your doctor if it is alright to postpone or even avoid the next dose.
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| 6. How do I care for my child after he/ she has had a shot? |
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If a mild fever or soreness at the injection site is evident, ask your doctor if you may offer the child some fever and pain medication. Always follow the recommended dosage for your child’s age/ weight. A warm, slightly damp cloth placed on the injection site can help ease the tenderness. Regularly moving the injected limb may also help ease the pain.
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| 7. Are vaccines 100% effective? |
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Unfortunately, nothing in medicine is 100% effective. Most vaccines are able to provide between 80% and 95% protection against a disease. So there is only a very small chance that an immunized child will get that disease in his/ her lifetime. If a child is not vaccinated at all, the risk of getting that disease is definitely much higher.
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| 8. Do vaccines cause autism, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, multiple sclerosis or other adverse conditions? |
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Several scientific studies have been conducted and have failed to show any link between vaccines and illnesses like autism, SIDS and multiple sclerosis.
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| 9. Who shouldn’t be vaccinated? |
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Sometimes, the doctor may choose not to go ahead with a vaccination if the child is having a routine cold, flu or fever. In such cases, an alternate appointment date may be given for you to return when the child is feeling better.
Because many vaccines contain live germs, those with a very weak or compromised immune system (such as cancer patients) may not be given vaccines. Certain vaccines are not given to people with specific allergies or nervous system disorders. Doctors may also decide not to vaccinate children who have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of that vaccine. Parents should always discuss the best course of action with the child’s paediatrician before a child is vaccinated.
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