The thing about becoming a mom again is that I have to see another of my babies get poked several times so that contagious viruses, bacteria, and diseases don’t harm him or rather, harm him less, in the future. 14 years ago, my baby got 11 vaccine pricks. Then, 10 years ago, my second child had to get vaccinated 13 times until age 5. Now the recommended list of vaccinations has grown to around 20 and must be given before they turn 15. I’m so NOT liking going through this AGAIN.
Many parents refuse to vaccinate their babies for various reasons, while many others believe in vaccinating because they want to save their babies from harm. I’m stuck between the two. I hate vaccination time, but I want to protect my babies too.
Did you know that we, Indians, have a choice because vaccinations are not legally mandatory in India? But public health authorities strongly recommend a list of vaccines for our little ones, and government hospitals do provide essential vaccines free of cost under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). So, the rest is up to us, of course.
Further to the above essential vaccines, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) recommends additional or optional vaccines that we can get through private hospitals and paediatricians. But please make sure you visit a genuine doctor for these. Here is the list of optional but recommended vaccines for infants in India (according to our hospital books):
Typhoid (TCV) – Initially given at 2 years, now at 6-9 months
Hepatitis A1 – Initially given at 1.5 years, now at 12 months (Second dose after a few weeks)
Hepatitis A2 – Initially wasn’t separate, now given at 18-24 months
Varicella (Chickenpox 1) – Initially given at 15 months, now same
Varicella (Chickenpox 2) – Initially given at 5 years, now at 18-24 months
Influenza 1 (flu) – Wasn’t on the list; now given at 6 months
Influenza 2 (flu) – Wasn’t on the list; now given at 7 months
Meningococcal Vaccine – Wasn’t on the list; now given at 2 years
I knew what Influenza and Hepatitis were, but the Meningococcal Vaccine was new to me. This vaccine wasn’t mentioned in my two previous babies’ vaccination charts. So, as usual, I researched and found that Meningococcal Meningitis is a severe bacterial infection caused by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis. This bacterium can cause inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and also invade the bloodstream and nervous system. This infection is rare but can easily spread through kissing, sneezing, coughing or shared cutlery and utensils. Did you need another reason to stop people from kissing your baby? Some of the common symptoms are high fever, bulging fontanelle, unusual crying, fussiness, drowsiness, rapid breathing, blotchy skin or rash, etc. And our babies are at high risk because their immune systems are still immature.
According to research, the Meningococcal meningitis vaccine has been recently rolled out due to sharp surges in bacterial diseases, global elimination goals and the need to cover multiple dangerous strains. With the way the world is going, infections are bound to be on the rise. Viruses, bacteria and other diseases are painting our world red. We can only pray and hope for the best. And of course, vaccinate our babies on time so they experience reduced or no symptoms.
So, you see, as much as I hate these appointments, I know that I must get my baby vaccinated. He has already taken Influenza 1 and will be taking Influenza 2 and Typhoid (TCV) later this month. I’m not too keen on giving my kids the yearly flu shots unless I see that their immune systems are not working well. Every baby is different and only each one’s parent knows what’s best for them.
At the end of the day, walking into the clinic with a tiny baby and walking out with a crying one is never easy, even the third time. But as tough as those few minutes of tears and pain are, leaving our children defenseless against preventable, life-altering illnesses is much harder.
Trust your instincts, have honest discussions with your paediatrician and remember that every poke is simply a shield you are giving them for the future. We may never learn to love vaccination day, but we do it out of love, with one band-aid, warm cuddle and extra feed at a time.
References: https://www.gavi.org/
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Disclaimer: This article has been written as part of an awareness initiative by Blogchatter and reflects the author’s personal views. It is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Please consult your doctor for advice specific to your individual health needs.
