While many "anti-vaccines" around the world oppose vaccination, these measures have helped humanity to get rid of a large number of serious diseases. It is thanks to artificial immunization of children that life expectancy has increased so much.
The doctor vaccinates the child
Previously, from whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis and other dangerous diseases, people died in huge numbers, and this was perceived as part of the norm. The family had 10 children each, and only a few of them survived. However, there are cases in which vaccines are contraindicated. What are the pros and cons of this measure? Should the child be vaccinated or not?
Vaccination goals
Even before the invention of vaccines, mankind discovered that once having been ill with smallpox, it is impossible to be infected with it again. The first of them was discovered in 1798 by the English physician E. Jenner. He found that if you inject the contents of a cow's pock into a person, he would not get sick.
In the future, this area of medicine began to actively develop, now smallpox has almost disappeared. Later, they began to develop similar drugs for the prevention of other diseases. It has been proven that the main cause of infant mortality is the pathology of infectious genesis.
The crumb gets immunity
Thus, the purpose of vaccination is the acquisition of specific immunity, the task of which is to combat a specific pathogen. Vaccination is the main measure to help avoid early death of a child.
Immunization
In scientific words, the process of providing a person with specific protection against viruses and bacteria is called immunization. Vaccination is not the only way to acquire protection from pathogenic microorganisms. For example, ready-made antibodies can be administered to patients (this is passive immunization). In the case of vaccinations, a weakened pathogen or a certain protein of it is injected into the body, which stimulates the formation of protective forces in relation to a specific virus or bacteria.
The kid gets vaccinated
The advantage of vaccination is that the produced antibodies last longer than artificial ones. In turn, if a child becomes infected again, a second passive immunization is required. If the immunoglobulin is administered a second time, there may be side effects with a lower treatment success. Therefore, in practice, this method of therapy is used only if vaccination is impossible for some reason.
What vaccinations are given to babies up to a year
Children are vaccinated against the most common fatal infectious diseases.
Hepatitis B
This is liver damage caused by the ingress of a specific virus into the body. May cause cirrhosis and / or cancer and, as a result, death. Moreover, the earlier a person becomes infected, the higher the likelihood of the process becoming chronic. Therefore, the disease is especially dangerous for infants.
It is 50 times more infectious than HIV. In turn, the vaccine is easily tolerated and forms strong immunity. The first vaccination is given within 24 hours of birth.
Vaccination of the child
Unfortunately, the activity of "anti-vaccination workers" has led to the fact that, according to statistics, every second unvaccinated infant is at risk of contracting hepatitis B with a very real prospect of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Tuberculosis
This is a very common pathology, from which more than one and a half million people worldwide die each year. Even if a person does not die from it, then without proper treatment, he can become disabled.
Vaccination against tuberculosis is done 3-5 days after birth. In order not to overload the crumbs' body, the vaccine is administered separately from others. Also, after vaccination, it is not recommended that the child encounters any infections.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a disease in which the nervous system is severely affected, which leads to severe cramps and tension in the skeletal muscles. Complications such as spasm of the respiratory muscles, glottis and diaphragm, and cardiac paralysis, are the most common causes of tetanus death. Also, a person can die due to heart attack, pneumonia, blood poisoning, ruptured arteries and other complications.
At the age of 3 months, children are injected with the DPT vaccine, which simultaneously gives immunity against two other dangerous diseases: whooping cough and diphtheria.
Polio
It is a disease leading to either disability or death. It cannot be cured. Therefore, vaccination is the only way to ensure a normal life for a child. The first vaccination is given at 3 months.
Diphtheria
A dangerous disease that in the early stages may resemble a sore throat, but leads to severe complications, up to and including death. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Death occurs from blockage of the airways with a special film. Also, the baby can die from neck swelling.
The vaccine does not guarantee complete protection, but it can significantly alleviate the course of the disease, up to forms that do not cause death. Therefore, vaccination is highly recommended.
Whooping cough
A serious illness characterized by bouts of painful coughing. A person dies from complications such as pneumonia. Due to oxygen starvation that occurs during the disease, pertussis encephalopathy can develop, manifested in impaired consciousness, up to coma and seizures. Vascular ruptures from coughing attacks and epilepsy are also possible.
When is vaccination not recommended?
Despite the extremely positive effect of vaccines, sometimes they are not used:
- Allergy. If the child has negative reactions to any components, the doctor should be notified about this.
- Prematurity. In general, these children also need vaccinations. But there are certain weight norms at which a number of vaccines are prohibited. As soon as the baby gains the required weight, he needs to give these drugs, like normal babies.
- Respiratory symptoms. During ARVI, the immune system works at full capacity. If you vaccinate, then you can only weaken it. You should wait until the symptoms disappear and then get vaccinated.
- Oncology. Chemotherapy impairs immunity, and the introduction of a pathogen, albeit weakened, can aggravate the condition.
- Immunodeficiencies are also a contraindication. Often, parents believe that if a child who goes to kindergarten is often sick, it means that he has poor immunity. In most cases, this is not the case. It's just that he regularly encounters viruses, therefore, he can be vaccinated almost immediately after the disappearance of acute symptoms of the disease.
- Taking medications. Some medicines may not work with vaccines.
Important! You can not be vaccinated in the acute phase of any other infectious disease.
The consequences of refusing immunization for up to a year
Should a child be vaccinated? At the age of up to one year, specific immunity is created. If you do not form it, the likelihood of getting sick increases significantly. The symptoms are described above and are very unpleasant. So, of course, you need to get vaccinated.
Pros and cons of vaccinations
Arguments for vaccinations:
- This method has proven to be effective.
- Vaccination will help protect yourself from terrible diseases.
- This is the only way to obtain acquired immunity.
- The more people are vaccinated, the less likely to get sick and unvaccinated. All because of herd immunity. People with acquired resistance to disease will quickly destroy the pathogen and will not transmit it to others. Therefore, a person without resistance to pathogens will not pick it up.
On a note. Only the presence of medical contraindications can speak against vaccinations.
It is necessary to seriously think about whether it is worth risking the baby's life for the sake of pseudo-arguments of "anti-vaccination"? After all, the consequences of tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and other diseases are much more serious than the possible individual reactions to vaccination. In most cases, the doctor can handle the latter, and they do not pose a threat.
Should I vaccinate my child? Of course yes. This will significantly increase his lifespan. The question of what vaccinations a child can not be given is not even worth it. This is a mandatory procedure.
