Help protect infants from many diseases with childhood vaccinations

  • Published
  • By Maj. Rose Popovich
  • 71st Medical Operations Squadron
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Immunizations are one of the most important ways for parents to protect their children. Newborn babies that are breastfed are often immune to many diseases because of the antibodies they received from their mother's milk. However, this immunity is temporary and may not occur if the baby is strictly fed with formula. Childhood immunizations develop your child's defense system, which can then fight off serious and potentially deadly diseases. By getting your child vaccinated, you will be fighting disease in two ways. You will be protecting your own child and by staying healthy they will be protecting other children as well.
Vaccines are weakened or dead germs of the disease. They are introduced to the body either through injection or orally. The body responds to vaccines as it does to the real disease germ by making antibodies. Antibodies help to protect your child from germs when sick. This helps your child build immunity to that disease. Some vaccinations require boosters to keep the antibodies strong in your child's system.
Vaccines work best when they are given at certain ages. If given earlier than recommended, they may not work as well. There are 12 potentially serious disease that vaccines protect against: measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib disease, hepatitis B, chicken pox, hepatitis A, and pneumoccaccal disease. At least one shot is needed for each of these diseases, while some are required to be given over a period of time in properly spaced doses for the best protection. Some of these vaccines are combined into one injection.
Side effects can occur after the vaccinations. These can include: irritability or sleepiness, slight fever, rash, soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site. These are all normal and should not last more than 24 hours. It is very important to track all immunizations your child receives. Most schools require a child's immunization record to present upon registration.
Yes, as a parent it maybe tough to witness your child crying while receiving their immunizations but these vaccines keep your child safe from a long list of illnesses. Making sure your children get all the required immunizations on the routine schedule is the single most important thing you can do to keep them and your family healthy.
Contact your pediatrician or the Vance AFB immunization clinic to verify your children's immunization record. The clinic immunization clinic is open 7 to 11 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are closed the second and fourth Thursday of each month after 2:30 p.m. for training.