Vaccines are administered to boost your immunity levels against external risks such as germs, virus, bacteria and other microbes. Over the last few decades, vaccines have become the most common measure to avoid the risks of several diseases. It is due to worldwide vaccination programs have diseases such as polio, smallpox, etc. have been successfully eradicated. Read on to know more about immunization schedule and its importance.
The immunization schedule represents a timetable of vaccines to be administered to enhance the immunity against common diseases. The schedule may change based on the region you live, the baby’s health condition as well as the types of vaccines made available. Due to emergence of modern vaccines, a few vaccines can be administered by blending together. It is recommended to talk to the doctor (preferably a pediatrician) to know the immunization schedule for your child.
Based on the age of your child, the schedule can be categorized as below-
At birth – the common vaccines are HEP B vaccine – I (against hepatitis B) and oral PV 0 dose (for polio). Within 6 weeks from the time of birth, BCG is administered; this works against respiratory disorders like tuberculosis. Between four to six weeks, a second dosage for hepatitis B is given. By the 6th week (from the time of birth), DPT -1 and OPV -1 are administered; these work against diseases such as diphtheria, pertusis, polio and tetanus.
Over the lapse of 10 weeks and 14 weeks (from time of birth), next doses for diphtheria, pertusis, tetanus, polio and hepatitis B are administered. Before your baby becomes a year-old, a vaccine for measles and a next dose for polio are given. Soon after your baby crosses a year (between 15 and 18 months of age), vaccines for mumps, measles and rubella are administered.
By the time your baby reaches 18 months, a diphtheria booster and fifth dose of OPV are given. If you live in a region where typhoid is rampant, while your child reaches 2 years of age – a vaccine for it is administered. By the time child reaches four or five years old, next dose of OPV (VI) as well as second booster for DPT vaccine are administered.
Immunization schedule listing these doses is furnished here-
Apart from the above schedule, a list of other available vaccines for H influenza B, Hepatitis A, chickenpox, meningococcal A & C, pneumococcal and influenza – administered between 6 weeks to 12 months from the time birth are provided below-
There are a few ongoing vaccines that are administered for tetanus, typhoid and meningococcal A & C. These are given as per the table below.
It is recommended to talk to the treating doctor about more details about each of the above vaccinations. As mentioned above, the immunization schedule is determined by a combination of multiple factors – salient among them are age of your baby, which part of the world you are living as well as the types of vaccines available for the diseases prevalent in the region.
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from New York University. Experience: 5 years of experience writing for physiotherapy and sports medicine blogs, providing expert insights on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
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