What is vaccine?

➜ Vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

Why are Vaccines important?

➜ During the past years, vaccinations in India have saved more than a billion lives and prevented countless people from falling prey to a wide range of illnesses and disabilities. However, vaccine-preventable diseases such as mumps, measles, and whooping cough are still a threat. They continue affecting children, thus, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths each year. Immunisations are important for two main reasons. First, to protect yourself and second, to protect those around you. Vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent diseases.

What are the benefits of Vaccines?

➜ While the benefits of immunisation are invisible, the idea is that you or your child will not become ill with any disease. Sometimes, it may be tempting to say ‘NO’ to immunisation. However, this puts health at risk of catching some severe or fatal diseases. In reality, taking a vaccination is better and safer than not taking one. Vaccination may not be 100% effective, but it is the best defence against epidemics that kill or disable millions of people.

What are the different Vaccines for children and adults?

➜ Appropriate age-related vaccines are formulated for both children and adults at various stages of their life, to prevent them from contracting certain diseases and health issues. Mentioned below are some vaccines that are essential for children, young adolescents and adults.

• Vaccines for New-Borns [0 to 1 years]

Every child needs vaccine from birth to 12 months of age.

During the first six months of age, babies need multiple vaccinations, a few of which are DTaP that helps protect them from diphtheria and whooping cough; IPV that protects them from Polio; and Rotavirus that helps protect them from rotavirus diseases such as vomiting, dehydration and diarrhoea.

Babies are also given Hepatitis B vaccine that helps protect against liver diseases that are caused by the Hepatitis B virus, including the dosage given at birth.

• Vaccines for Toddlers [1 to 2 years]

Once your baby turns a year old, he or she needs a few vaccines which include the MMR vaccine that protects them against measles, mumps; and rubella, which could avoid blindness, pneumonia, deafness, mental retardation, and more.

• Vaccines for Children [4 to 6 years]

DTaP, Polio boosters, MMR and Varicella, are vaccinations that be must be given to children before they start attending school / day care.

Make sure your child receives his boosters as early as at four years of age.

• Vaccines for Adolescents [11 to 12 years]

Tdap is a vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

MCV / Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine helps the body fight against infections of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and bloodstream infections.

HPV or Human Papillomavirus Vaccine protects against viruses that cause about 70% of cervical cancer in women and others diseases in both, males and females.

• Vaccines for Adults

Adults need immunisation as well. Over time, our immunity to tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria fade off, and other vaccines are needed that are based on one’s age and lifestyle. A few vaccinations for adults are: