The Importance and Benefits of Vaccination

By Dr. Bobby Sadawarti, Pediatrician and Neonatologist, Allergist, and Breastfeeding Consultant, AIMS Hospital, Dombivli

November 28, 2024 : World Immunization Day is observed every year on November 10th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of vaccination and how it can prevent many diseases in the long term.

Vaccination helps protect children from numerous diseases, strengthens their immune system, and prevents serious illnesses. Newborns, in particular, have very weak immunity, making them more susceptible to illness.

Vaccination schedule begins right at birth and continues until adulthood, with primary vaccinations needing to be completed by the age of one.

Young children are at high risk for life-threatening diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, diphtheria, and pertussis.

Vaccines help to achieve preformed defense against specific organisms and thereby reduce morbidity of these conditions.

However, if a child misses a vaccination, they may contract a dangerous illness or become a carrier of the disease, contributing significantly to its spread.

Vaccines help enhance a child’s immune system, enabling it to fight infections more effectively.

They boost the body’s ability to resist specific diseases. If a virus or bacteria attacks the body in the future, the immune response is immediate and effective.

Some vaccines may lead to a temporary decrease in immunity over time due to multiple mutations, which is why booster doses are given at specified intervals.

Vaccination has contributed to a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality among children. It can even prevent diseases like measles, which causes high fever, rashes, and sometimes brain swelling, as well as polio, which can lead to paralysis, and conditions like pneumonia and tetanus, which invite dangerous complications such as muscle spasms and breathing difficulties in newborns.

It is essential to follow the vaccination schedule recommended by experts.

This is where the vaccination card becomes very important.

It helps you keep track of your child’s vaccination schedule, ensuring you know when the next dose is due.

Typically, your pediatrician will provide this card, which includes all the essential vaccinations recommended up to the age of 18.

Having this vaccination card for your child is crucial for proper health management.

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