Can I Let My Child Get The Chickenpox Instead Of Getting The Vaccine
Although chickenpox is a mild disease that many parents will remember from childhood , some children will develop serious cases with complications that can be fatal or cause permanent disabilities. The vaccine eliminates the risk of complications from the disease, and prevents children from infecting their siblings, friends and classmates.
When Should A Child Not Be Vaccinated
In a few cases, it’s better to wait to get a vaccine. Some children who are very sick should not get a vaccine at all. Reasons that you should wait or not get a vaccine may include:
- Being sick with something more serious than a cold.
- Having a bad reaction after the first dose of a vaccine.
- Having a convulsion that is thought to be caused by a vaccine.
Are Some Babies Allergic To Vaccines
Very rarely, children can have an allergic reaction soon after immunisation. This reaction may be a rash or itching affecting part or all of the body. The doctor or nurse giving the vaccine will know how to treat this. It does not mean that your child should stop having immunisations.
Even more rarely, children can have a severe reaction, within a few minutes of the immunisation, which causes breathing difficulties and can cause the child to collapse. This is called an anaphylactic reaction. A recent study has shown that there is only 1 anaphylactic reaction in about a million immunisations.
An anaphylactic reaction is a severe and immediate allergic reaction that needs urgent medical attention.
The people who give immunisations are trained to deal with anaphylactic reactions and children recover completely with treatment.
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Why Should I Vaccinate My Child
Vaccines save lives. Measles vaccines alone are estimated to have prevented over 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2017.
Vaccines will help protect your child against diseases that can cause serious harm or death, especially in people with developing immune systems like infants.
Its important to vaccinate your child. If not, highly contagious diseases such as measles, diphtheria and polio, which were once wiped out in many countries, will come back.
If Your Child Is Missing A Vaccine
Life can get busy and you may not be able to make every vaccination appointment for your child. Your child may also have missed vaccines from your health care provider or their school because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to call your health care provider or local public health authority if your child missed receiving any vaccines. They can help your child get back on track with the recommended vaccination schedule. This will help to protect your child from many vaccine-preventable diseases.
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How Can Parents Keep Children Safe Before They Get The Covid
Since it may still be a while before your littlest ones can get vaccinated, its important to continue following the same safety measures youve used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, says Kyle Monk, M.D., a pediatrician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board.
This includes wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands frequently. You still need to hold off on unmasked playdates or sleepovers until children are vaccinated, adds Dr. Monk.
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What To Do If You Move
If you move to another province or territory, your child’s vaccination schedule may change. Once you have moved, contact your new health care provider or local public health office. They will tell you which vaccines may be needed in that province or territory.
Remember to take your child’s vaccination record to the appointment with you.
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Hearing Test For Newborns
Sometime in the first day after your baby is born, he or she will also have a hearing test done. Typically, this test will wait until at least six hours after birth, as its common that the process of birth leaves some residue in the babys ears that can interfere with the hearing screen. Waiting allows the ear canals to clear out a bit more.
This test is very simple and completely painless to your baby. the nurse places some special headphones on the babys ears that release sound and measure the babys response to the sounds. If the test detects a low response, the hearing screen will typically be repeated. If your baby fails the hearing screen again, another repeat will be scheduled for approximately one week after you leave the hospital and if your baby fails that repeat, you will be referred to a hearing specialist.
Keep this information in mind to help your childs immunizations go more smoothly:
Vaccines are some of the safest and most effective medicines we have, and they have made many dangerous childhood diseases rare today.
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Can I Delay Vaccines For My Child If I Want To
It’s never a good idea to delay vaccines for your baby. It is especially important to follow the recommended vaccine schedule during the pandemic, since delayed vaccinations could result in children catching preventable illnesses at a time when hospitals are already overwhelmed.
Another reason to keep up with the vaccine schedule is that children who fall behind on their shots are less likely to be fully vaccinated later on .
If you missed one or more of your child’s routine vaccinations during the pandemic, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician right away to get back on track.
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Where And When Should You Get Your Child Vaccinated
You can get your child vaccinated for free at any CLSC. Some doctors offices also offer vaccinations.
It is recommended that all children, including premature babies, start being vaccinated at the age of 2 months. This ensures them the best protection when they need it most and prevents them from falling behind in their vaccination schedule.
It is recommended that your child get his first vaccinations at the age of 2 months, in order to follow the regular schedule. Premature babies should also receive their first vaccine 2 months after birth.
Reasons Why Your Baby Should Not Be Immunised
There are very few reasons why babies cannot be immunised.
Vaccines should not be given to babies who have had:
- a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine
- a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B
In general, children who are immunosuppressed should not receive live vaccines. Children who are immunosuppressed include those:
-
whose immune system does not work properly because they are undergoing treatment for a serious condition such as a transplant or cancer
-
who have any condition which affects the immune system, such as severe primary immunodeficiency. Primary immunodeficiencies are very rare diseases that mean you are more likely to catch infections. They are usually caused by a faulty gene and are diagnosed soon after birth
If this applies to your child, you must tell your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor before the immunisation. They will need to get specialist advice on using live vaccines such as MMR, rotavirus vaccine and Bacillus CalmetteGuérin vaccine . There are no other reasons why vaccines should definitely not be given.
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Some Diseases Have Disappeared From This Country Why Do We Need To Immunise Against Them
In the UK, these diseases are kept at bay by high immunisation rates. Around the world, millions of people a year die from infectious diseases with more than 5 million of these being children under the age of 5.
Many of these deaths could be prevented by immunisation. As more people travel abroad and more people come to visit this country, there is a risk that they will bring these diseases into the UK. The diseases may spread to people who havent been immunised so your baby is at greater risk if he or she has not been immunised.
Immunisation doesnt just protect your child it also helps to protect your family and the whole community, especially those children who, for medical reasons, cant be immunised.
Newborn Vaccines Your Baby Needs
Is your baby protected from vaccine-preventable diseases? Heres the newborn vaccine schedule recommended by the CDC and AAP for your babys first months of life.
Your baby will be given a handful of vaccines and supplements in the first months of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the carefully-planned childhood vaccine schedule. Following the schedule in the coming months and years will put your infant on track for life-long immunity to dangerous diseases.
The vaccines recommended for your young baby are closely monitored by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness. Here are the vaccines that your baby will receive from birth through two months.
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How Vaccines Are Given
Most vaccines are given by needle in the upper arm or thigh. Some vaccines, like the rotavirus vaccine, are given by mouth. Theres also a flu vaccine for children thats sprayed into the nose.
Some vaccines are given separately. Others, like the MMR vaccine, protect against 3 diseases in one vaccine.
Your childs immune system can learn from more than 1 vaccine at a time. For instance, babies can respond to 10,000 different antigens at any one time.
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What Is A Vaccination Schedule
A vaccination schedule is a plan with recommendations for which vaccines your children should get and when they should get them. Vaccines are one of the most important ways to prevent children from getting some dangerous diseases. By exposing you to a germ in a controlled way, vaccines teach your body to recognize and fight it.
Government vaccine recommendations are just that — recommendations. You arent forced to get them. But state laws require your kids to have certain vaccines before they can go to daycare, school, or college, with some exceptions. Vaccines protect not just your child, but everyone they come in contact with. The more people who get vaccinated, the harder it is for a disease to spread.
Before theyre approved for use and added to the schedule, vaccines go through years of testing to make sure they work and that theyre safe. The government keeps track of any reports of side effects to make sure no problems come up.
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When Should Your Baby Be Immunised
It is important that your baby has their immunisations at the right age the first ones are given at 8 weeks old. They will be given further doses of these immunisations when they are 12 weeks old and 16 weeks old. Other immunisations are given at 1 year of age. Other immunisations are given later, see the table below for the immunisation schedule.
Immunisations At 1 Year Of Age
Your child will need the combined Hib/MenC vaccine, PCV, and the MenB vaccine at 1 year of age to boost their protection against Haemophilus influenzae type b, meningococcal B and pneumococcal infections. These vaccines will help to protect your child through early childhood.
Your child will also have their first dose of MMR and MenC vaccine at this time to protect against measles, mumps and rubella and meningococcal C. Your child will need a second dose of MMR vaccine before starting school.
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What Are The Side Effects Of The Vaccines Are The Vaccines Safe
According to Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator , …after giving these vaccines to millions of children, it’s really reassuring to know that for young kids, these vaccines are exceedingly safe.
The FDA states that both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been rigorously tested for safety. Side effects of the vaccine for the age group of 6 months to 4-5 years of age were found to be mild and brief.
These include pain and swelling at the injection site and potentially some redness. Kids could also feel tired, sleepy, have a headache, or become irritable. Some families reported mild diarrhea, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes, temporarily.
About myocarditis as a side effect, Dr. Rohatsch notes, Naturally, parents are concerned about the myocarditis side effect previously reported in teens and young adults. Vaccine trial results did not find instances of myocarditis in young children aged 6 months to 5 years of age. He adds, However, COVID-19 can also cause myocarditis. In fact, many viral infections have been associated with myocarditis, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and even the common cold. Its important to get the full perspective.
Theres a lot of information to sort through when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, and it can get overwhelming. To help you make sense of it all, consider talking to a healthcare provider. Solv can help you book same-day appointments with a physician near you.
Vaccination And Your Child
Vaccination is the best way to protect your child against many dangerous diseases. In Canada, vaccines prevent illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis , polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B , rotavirus, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases, human papillomavirus virus , and influenza.
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Watch Out For Meningitis And Septicaemia
Both meningitis and septicaemia are very serious. It is important that you recognise the signs and symptoms and know what to do if you see them. Early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia may be similar to a cold or flu .
However, people with meningitis or septicaemia can become seriously ill within hours, so it is important to act fast.
Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain. Meningitis can be caused by several types of bacteria including pneumococcus, meningococcus and Haemophilus influenzae or by viruses.
The bacteria that cause meningitis and septicaemia , can also cause pericarditis and arthritis and other serious infections.
In babies, the main symptoms of meningitis may include:
- a high-pitched, moaning cry
- being irritable when picked up
- a bulging fontanelle
- feeling drowsy and not responding to you, or being difficult to wake
- being floppy and having no energy
- stiff with jerky movements
- refusing feeds and vomiting
- having skin that is pale, blotchy or turning blue
- a fever
- a fever
- diarrhoea and stomach cramps
The glass test
Press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly against the rash so you can see if the rash fades and loses colour under pressure. If it doesnt change colour, contact your doctor immediately.
Further information
The following charities provide information, advice and support:
Meningitis Research Foundation
What Is The Covid Risk For Infants And Children Under 5
Though the overall risk of COVID is low, CDC data shows that COVID-19 can cause serious illness in unvaccinated infants and children under 4 years of age. Thousands of children under 5 have been hospitalized due to COVID, and there have been hundreds of deaths. It can be very scary for parents to see their children sick many may not want to take a chance.
Vaccines can offer an added layer of protection. If you would like to learn more, Solv can help you see a doctor near you in less than a day.
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What Are The Risks Of Not Vaccinating Or Not Vaccinating On Time
The diseases prevented by infant and childhood vaccines are serious and even deadly. Measles can spread to the brain, cause brain damage and death. Mumps can cause permanent deafness. Polio can cause paralysis. Sadly, these diseases have not disappeared. There is no treatment and no cure for diseases like measles, polio and tetanus. The only way to protect your child is through vaccination.
Diphtheria Tetanus And Pertussis Vaccination
Routine vaccination
- 5-dose series at 2, 4, 6, 1518 months, 46 years
- Prospectively: Dose 4 may be administered as early as age 12 months if at least 6 months have elapsed since dose 3.
- Retrospectively: A 4th dose that was inadvertently administered as early as age 12 months may be counted if at least 4 months have elapsed since dose 3.
Catch-up vaccination
- Dose 5 is not necessary if dose 4 was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after dose 3.
- For other catch-up guidance, see Table 2.
Special situations
- Wound management in children less than age 7 years with history of 3 or more doses of tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine: For all wounds except clean and minor wounds, administer DTaP if more than 5 years since last dose of tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine. For detailed information, see www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/rr/rr6702a1.htm.
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What To Expect During This Visit
Your doctor and/or nurse will probably:
1. Check your child’s weight, length, and head circumference and plot the measurements on a growth chart.
2. Ask questions, address concerns, and provide guidance about how your toddler is:
Eating. By 15 months, most toddlers are eating a variety of foods and are better able to handle textures. Offer your toddler 3 meals and 23 scheduled healthy snacks a day. Growth slows down in the second year of life so don’t be surprised if your child’s appetite has decreased. Your child can drink from a cup and may be able to use a spoon but probably prefers to finger-feed.
Pooping. As you introduce new foods and whole milk, the look of your child’s poop may change from day to day. Let your doctor know if your child has diarrhea, is constipated, or has poop that’s hard to pass.
Sleeping. There’s a wide range of normal, but generally toddlers need about 1214 hours of sleep a day, including naps.
Developing. By 15 months, most toddlers:
- try to say 1 or 2 words other than mama or dada
- show affection with hugs, cuddles, and kisses
- follow directions that you give using both gestures and words
- look at familiar objects when you name them
- point to ask for something, or to get help
- copy other children while playing
- try to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
- stack at least 2 things, like blocks
- take a few steps on their own
- use their fingers to feed themselves