Understanding the risk when delaying child vaccinations
Throughout history and until just a few decades ago, it was perfectly normal for a family to have numerous children. There are many reasons why a couple would want a large family. Unfortunately, many children did not survive infancy. If diseases did not result in a fatality, it often left children disabled. An example of this is polio.
Today, the chances of a child contracting a disease like polio, is practically eradicated in most parts of the world. The reason for this is vaccinations.
Herd immunity
This term is often used to describe the collective immunity of a community. If everyone is immune, the chances of one person contracting the disease are low. The chances of that person spreading it to someone who is immune, is low.
It benefits everyone, if as many people as possible are vaccinated against the same diseases. This also benefits the few people who are not allowed to get vaccinated due to auto-immune conditions. Fewer people around them will get sick and by extension, fewer people spread their illness.
What happens when you delay having your baby vaccinated?
Parents are avoiding clinics, and are not sticking to their appointments or their schedules, in fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Yet, they are unaware of the very real risk of their children catching other diseases.
If you delay your baby’s vaccine, they could contract a disease and suffer severe consequences. For example, many people who have contracted polio have physical disabilities. Some are wheelchair-bound or have no use of their hands. This could have been prevented, had they received a vaccine early enough.
Babies are susceptible to a variety of diseases. As they are exposed to family and friends who want to meet and spend time with them, the chances of them contracting something increases.
Many children are at day-care during the day, and are then exposed to their carers and other babies. These are all risk factors. It is important to have your baby vaccinated according to the schedule (indicated below), to minimise the risk.
Which vaccines should my baby be getting?
There are two schedules to follow if you are vaccinating. The private schedule includes more options for injections. The public schedule caters for the basics. If you are unable to afford the private schedule, public schedule vaccines are available at the public clinics at no cost. Mopani’s Homegrown Babies clinic offer public and private schedule vaccine options. Already mentioned private costs something, don’t repeat
We have minimised the severity of illnesses such as the whooping cough, mumps, meningitis, rubella, chicken pox and polio. Babies are still susceptible to contagious diseases such as the flu and hepatitis A. Hepatitis vaccines are routinely included, but the flu vaccine is not part of the schedule. It is recommended that you have your baby vaccinated every year against the flu, from the age of six months and older.
Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic and other socio-economic factors, some countries are at risk for losing the decades-in-the-fight battle against these diseases once again. They are simply not keeping up with their vaccination schedules, or there are no facilities to stock or administer them.
Let’s not fall into that trap.
Keep up with your child’s vaccination schedule.
Picture: Department of Health and Human Services
Read more: Why booster vaccinations are necessary
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