As far as vaccination in children in concerned, there is a serious lack of awareness in spite of the government attempts to popularize this. Vaccination in children is a must because even though antibodies are passed from mother to the unborn child and after birth, mother’s milk continues to provide additional antibodies, this protection is not permanent. Vaccination provides protection against diseases and in the growing years of a child. Hence, vaccination is a must.
Through vaccinations we have been able to prevent a number of diseases. There are certain vaccines that are to be given at birth, namely BCG, oral polio vaccine and hepatitis B. Then at sixth, tenth and fourteenth week, DPT with polio vaccine & hepatitis B need to be given. At the age of nine months, a child should be given a dosage of measles vaccine. What vaccination does is that it injects a weakened microorganism that causes the ailment so that the immune system in our body is stimulated to fend off the weakened microorganism. The immune system also remembers to fight off the organism if it enters the body later.
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways of preventing a disease. Vaccines have known to be ninety percent effective. Most of these vaccines are subsidized by the government and hence is the most economical way of preventing diseases.