As a new parent, you have a million things to juggle; round-the-clock diaper duty feeds that are clocking overtime and a household that needs your attention. And then there are vaccinations. The very thought of having your child immunized against a variety of diseases can be daunting; what with the possibility of pain and side effects plaguing your little (bawling) bundle.
Yet, vaccinations can be potent lifeguards for your baby, immunizing against fatal diseases like tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and diphtheria. Not only can they envelop your child in protection, but they can also help curb the spread of deadly diseases.
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If you have reservations about vaccinations, let this article be your guiding light.
A vaccine contains weakened or diminished forms of disease-causing germs that prompt your child’s body into battle mode. In turn, the body releases antibodies in the same way it would if it were fighting an illness. This process ensures that the antibodies produced remain in your child’s system long after the administration of the vaccination, warding off any threat of the actual disease.
Vaccines are completely safe and universally recommended for use on infants. Allergic reactions to vaccines are rare, with only 1 in 1 million children exhibiting adverse symptoms. Even in such cases, allergic reactions can be treated with timely medical intervention.
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The benefits of immunization far outweigh the potential risks. However, if you’re still on the fence about the potency of vaccinations, here are 5 reasons to tip you over the edge.
Vaccinations build a powerful wall of protection around your child; with every new one, the wall becomes stronger and even more impenetrable. In India, a culture of immunisation has led to the eradication of diseases that were once considered life-threatening. However, there are many diseases that are still in existence, which can be contained with vaccinations.
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The vaccination roster prescribed in India includes immunizations that have been carefully tested and validated by scientists, medical professionals and physicians over several years. While pain, fever and swelling at the location of the injection are some side effects you may notice in your child, know that these symptoms are normal and far milder than those of the disease itself.
There has historically been a misperception that vaccines play a role in triggering certain conditions like autism, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, allergies, asthma and attention deficit disorder. However, this is not true. Many conditions begin manifesting at around the same age that immunizations are administered. Autism, for instance, begins exhibiting telltale signs at the same age that the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine is administered. Despite the ostensible association, studies have shown that vaccines and childhood conditions are mutually exclusive.
Vaccines are remarkable safeguards, but they are not always foolproof. Childhood vaccinations protect up to 99% of recipients, with the exception being some children who fail to respond. On Cloudnine, we are working towards creating an immunity ecosystem that covers all children. A child who has not responded to immunisation can still be protected by being encircled in an environment where others are immunised. Your child could be free of risk from immunised children, but not from children who have not been immunised, and are carriers of serious conditions.
In the absence of immunisation, a deadly disease can strike anytime. Combating a disease once it is contracted is no mean feat. The process can entail astronomical medical bills, severe stress and anxiety, time off work, and risk of long-term disability. By preventing illness before it has a chance to strike, you can save yourself precious resources.
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Vaccines hold the potential to entirely eliminate diseases from the environment. Smallpox, for example, was known to incapacitate and kill people in previous generations, but the disease can be completely prevented today. With vaccines, you can cut off diseases for good, and gift protection to not just your child, but also the generations ahead.
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