Vaccination

Vaccination is a mode of imparting immunity to the baby by injecting antigen. It is a widely accepted method of immunization. Even though it is good for baby’s health and is helpful to be free from many diseases, the days following the vaccination are a bit hectic for the parents because the baby might be cranky or there is also a chance of having fever and other discomforts.

The term vaccination imparts a beachhead of doubts in a new mom. They are confused between painless or regular vaccinations, how many vaccinations can be taken simultaneously, whether you can delay or give the vaccination a bit early, do we have to give all the vaccinations, can we skip optional vaccination etc. Here we make an attempt to answer a few queries so that you can make an informed decision.

What is painless vaccination and can it be given???

This option is available only for DPT vaccination which can be either DP(a)T which is painless or rather speaking “less painful” because post vaccination the pain and discomfort is less as compared to regular DP(w)T vaccine.  Some experts opine that the painless vaccination is not very effective because the incidents of pertussis and whooping cough were reported in some regions of USA after giving this vaccination and now it is banned/ temporarily off of the shelves in many places. We will suggest you to go for DP(w)T as the efficacy of the other one is still a question mark.

How many vaccinations can be taken simultaneously and can the vaccination be given bit early or late???

The whole set of vaccination which is mentioned at a particular time can be taken simultaneously.

It is advisable to stick to the vaccination schedule as far as possible but, you can give the vaccination a week or so late for genuine reasons which is not going to cause any serious issues.

Also, it is advisable to avoid the vaccination if the baby is already having fever, severe cough and cold

Optional vaccination:

The optional vaccinations are those which are mentioned in the immunization schedule which are not mandatory and it is nor provided in Govt. hospitals free of cost. You can decide if it is necessary to your baby depending up on the circumstances e.g.  Rota virus vaccine is to prevent diarrhea and dysentery which is not mandatory for exclusively breastfed babies. But always discuss about the optional vaccines with your pediatrician so that you can make an informed decision of which are essential and which ones can be skipped.

Medications in case of pain and fever post vaccination:

Post vaccination there will be pain and fever which can be treated with analgesics and anti-pyretic. Give the medicines in every 6 hrs. if the pain is severe and in every 8 hrs. if the pain and fever is less and the baby is not cranky. Swelling and redness at the site of vaccination will be there for some days or in some babies for a week or so. That is not a matter to be worried. Also, you can go for ice packs and cold compressions.

Tips to manage post vaccination cranky baby:

• Make sure to give the medication as prescribed by the doctor so that the pain will be controlled to a great extent.
• Keep the baby in a comfortable temperature.
• If the baby is having fever, crush few Tulsi and Karpooravalli leaves and administer their juice to the baby with breast milk or honey.
• You can also smear Karpooravalli (Coleus Amboinicus) leaf juice on the babies fore head
• An Ayurvedic tablet “kombanchadi gulika” which is available in Ayurveda shops is also very effective in fever and pain management.

Be mentally prepared to handle two or three days of chaos before going for vaccination so that you are also not stressed up during those days.