What is a vaccination?
Vaccination is the introduction of weakened viruses into the human body as part of immunobiological medicines. The administered drug promotes the fight between healthy cells of the body and infected ones. By defeating weakened microbes, the immune system will become stronger and the body will be able to resist real diseases.
Any vaccinations, whether at 4 months or 1 month, do not guarantee that a person will not get the infection for which they were vaccinated. But immunoprophylaxis can ease the course of the disease, speed up the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of side effects.
Many vaccines are a mixture of vaccines given together.
According to their focus, vaccines are divided into groups:
- Viral - from rubella, mumps, hepatitis, polio, measles, etc.
- Bacterial - from tuberculosis, tetanus, whooping cough, etc.
Immunization can be planned - one that is done according to a schedule of 7 days, 1, 3, 4 months.
In the event of an epidemic, vaccinations are given to everyone who is at risk of infection.
Some vaccines provide long-lasting immunity to viruses, while others require multiple rounds of vaccination to ensure the body has enough antibodies to fight it off. If the level of antibodies gradually decreases, a repeat procedure will be introduced - revaccination.
Russian vaccination calendar
In Russia, there is an immunization schedule that gives average rates for administering vaccines to children. It was approved by the Ministry of Health in 2007. Naturally, one cannot rely strictly on this provision; each case is individual; a parent has the right to do one type of vaccination, but not agree to another. If possible, you should adhere to the age at which the vaccine is recommended.
The time interval between vaccinations is important. Intervals and schedules for administering complex vaccines are observed, as with timely immunoprophylaxis. You cannot give the next vaccination less than 2 weeks after the previous one!
Are children vaccinated against coronavirus?
The most notorious disease of recent times is COVID-19. When the vaccine for this disease became available, many myths and questions arose. One of the most common ones is: can children be vaccinated against Covid?
It is interesting that one part of the parents is actively interested in: do children need to be vaccinated, and if so, with what and where? And the second is very aggressively opposed to vaccination. Some European countries have long practiced vaccinating children against COVID-19. In Russia, things are a little different. Our vaccines are intended for adults and have been actively tested for a long time. They are recognized in many countries of the world and are considered one of the most effective. However, the issue of vaccination against coronavirus for children is different - everything is unclear.
For example, until recently, WHO experts said that children should not be vaccinated against coronavirus because there is insufficient data on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for this population group. But in June 2021, the WHO stated that the vaccine is suitable for children and adolescents. However, it is better to give the Covid injection to children over 12 years old and only with parental permission. It is recommended to first consult with your pediatrician before making an appointment.
A large number of immunomodulatory drugs can be found in our online pharmacy
What vaccinations are given at 4 months?
Growing up, the baby communicates more and more with the world around him. For this reason, he becomes more susceptible to the risk of contracting any infection. If there are no contraindications, a series of vaccines is recommended.
Vaccinations at 4 months are performed, as at 3 months, against 4 diseases:
- Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Accompanied by inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract, including disruption of normal breathing and damage to the mucous membranes of the throat. In contact with a sick person, a healthy person will become infected with a 90% probability. There is no innate immunity against this type of disease, but after recovery the body gains protection for the rest of its life. This infection is especially dangerous for children under 2 years of age.
- Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract, and sometimes the skin, visual and genital organs. Diphtheria is dangerous due to the toxin produced by the diphtheria bacillus. This bacterium poisons the body, disrupting the functioning of the nervous, cardiovascular and excretory systems. Children aged 3 to 7 years are especially at risk.
- Tetanus is an infectious disease that affects people and all warm-blooded animals. It develops from the bacteria Clostridium tetani entering open wounds. It is also present in the intestines of humans and animals, but there it does not cause harm to the carrier. The virus is not dangerous if swallowed; when it enters the bloodstream, the pathogen produces a strong toxin. The mortality rate for this type of disease among all cases of infection is 80%, in children under one year of age - 95%.
- Poliomyelitis is a disease primarily affecting children under 5 years of age. The virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by any route. The disease affects the spinal cord and causes paralysis of organs, most often the legs. Complete paralysis of the body can develop within a few hours. There is no cure for polio; even if life is saved, the consequences remain forever.
For the first three diseases, a complex vaccine called DTP is given. The adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccination is repeated at 4–5 months, the first immunization is carried out at 3 months. DTP is the most complex childhood vaccine; it causes many allergic reactions; the child must be healthy before the procedure. But it protects against three deadly diseases, so consent to it is more than justified. If there is intolerance, DPT can be replaced with an imported analogue.
The polio vaccine is administered in two ways: intramuscularly and orally. At 4 months, the vaccine is usually administered through a syringe into the muscle.
A total of 3 vaccinations are performed through the muscle and 3 revaccinations in the form of drops.
First year of life: examination by doctors, research and vaccinations
The first year of life is the most difficult for the human body. It is very important not to miss possible developmental problems while they are still easy to correct, so you will have to visit the clinic with your baby often, even if he is absolutely healthy. An examination by a pediatrician, for example, is required every month for a year, not counting acute diseases, and besides this, there are also specialized doctors, ultrasound, tests...
Every parent understands that medical support for a newborn is necessary and tries to give him the best, but the first year is almost always accompanied by two main fears:
- we need so many examinations that we are bound to forget something;
- We need so many different examinations that we will definitely go bankrupt.
The best way to get rid of both at once is to choose an annual maintenance program for your baby. In this case, we will remind you about the necessary visits and vaccines, and for better control, below we provide a list of everything your child needs from a medical point of view during the first year of life. As for the monetary side of the issue, annual service is almost always more profitable than paying for each individual visit.
Firstly, you immediately understand how much you will pay. Secondly, we provide young parents with special offers and various options for such programs that will allow you to save money.
The package includes not only preventive examinations, but also emergency doctor calls to your home, so you can have peace of mind.
Below we provide you with a complete list of examinations and vaccines needed in the first year of life. This is very important information, be sure to check it as your baby grows. Some studies can only be done at a certain age!
Memo: medical care for children from 0 to one year
First week after birth
DOCTORS.
In the maternity hospital, the newborn is examined by
a neonatologist
and repeated every day until discharge.
After discharge, a pediatrician must come to your home -
a local pediatrician, from a state clinic, if information from the maternity hospital was transferred there, or a family pediatrician, if you have an annual contract. The main thing that doctors control at this stage is height, weight, basic reflexes, tone, and advise you on issues of regimen, hygiene, breastfeeding or formula selection, care for the umbilical wound and any other issues related to the health of your child.
VACCINATIONS.
If the baby is healthy, full-term, and you sign consent for its vaccination, in the first few hours after birth it will be immunized
against viral hepatitis.
This is very important, since newborns are practically defenseless against it.
At 3-5 days the newborn is also vaccinated with BCG
- against tuberculosis.
SURVEYS.
On the fourth day after the birth of full-term babies and the seventh day after the birth of premature babies,
neonatal screening is done in the maternity hospital,
the so-called “heel test” - screening using a blood test taken from the heel of the newborn for the early detection of five serious diseases:
- congenital hypothyroidism – a violation of the production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, which is compensated by replacement therapy;
- adrenogenital syndrome – a hereditarily caused disorder in the synthesis of adrenal hormones; such a hormonal imbalance can lead to abnormal sexual development and short stature;
- phenylketonuria – the body’s inability to break down phenylalanine, an amino acid that many proteins contain, resulting in toxins that affect the central nervous system and lead to the development of mental retardation; successfully treated with timely diagnosis;
- galactosemia is a hereditary disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, which disrupts the functioning of internal organs, primarily the central nervous system.
- cystic fibrosis is an incurable disease of the exocrine glands that requires special therapy for the patient.
If you were discharged from the maternity hospital before the fourth day, be sure to contact the public clinic so that screening can be done for free after discharge. Screening results are communicated to parents only if any of the tests are positive or raise doubts and require rechecking. If the baby’s blood was taken, but the results were not sent to you, then everything is in order.
is also done in the maternity hospital -
check the baby's hearing. The results of the audiological screening are attached to the extract. If suddenly this study was not done in the maternity hospital, it must be done in the clinic when the baby is 1 month old.
1 month
DOCTORS.
your
pediatrician
much earlier than the child is one month old. The day after discharge from the maternity hospital, he will come to your home to examine the newborn. However, the first visit to a pediatrician at the clinic usually occurs when the neonatal period (28 days) has already passed.
During the first year of a baby's life, the pediatrician should examine him every month. A standard examination includes weighing, measuring height, measuring head circumference and chest circumference, examining the throat, nose, genitals, palpating the abdomen, and listening with a phonendoscope. At your appointment, the pediatrician answers all your questions regarding caring for a new family member.
neurologist is also mandatory.
(in the first year of life, if there are no complications, you will have to visit a neurologist three times). The neurologist checks the fontanelles and how they heal, assesses muscle tone and intracranial pressure. If parents are supporters of vaccination, in the early months of life the pediatrician often requests a neurologist’s opinion in order to make a final decision about the baby’s readiness for vaccinations.
At the age of 1 month, the baby must be examined by an orthopedist
(and also
a surgeon,
but many doctors combine these specialties, then a visit to
an orthopedic surgeon is enough).
He checks muscle tone, the presence of an umbilical hernia, excludes congenital pathologies, for example, torticollis, and gives recommendations for morning warm-up, which the mother does independently with the baby at home. At this age, it is very important to determine whether the child has hip dysplasia - underdevelopment of the joint, which can lead to joint dislocation and even lameness. With a timely diagnosis and early treatment, dysplasia is well corrected and leaves no consequences.
Ophthalmologist
examines the baby's eyes to exclude congenital diseases - cataracts, pathology of the retina and optic nerve, and also checks the patency of the nasolacrimal ducts - it is known that newborns do not begin to cry tears immediately after birth, but at first they cry without tears. In some cases, probing of the nasolacrimal ducts is required.
For an absolutely healthy, full-term patient, the ophthalmologist can schedule the next visit when the child is six months old. For premature babies, the doctor creates a different, more frequent schedule of visits, especially in the first six months.
VACCINATIONS.
When the baby turns one month old, according to the National Vaccination Calendar, he must receive
a second vaccination against viral hepatitis B.
EXAMINATIONS. At the age of 1 month, the baby undergoes ultrasound examinations (as a rule, in fact, this happens between 1 and 2 months, based on the prescriptions of doctors who examine him when he reaches 1 month). The standard set of studies is:
- neurosonography,
or ultrasound of the brain. At this age, it is done through the fontanel and allows you to see the structure of the brain and blood flow. NSG allows to exclude congenital malformations of the brain;
- Ultrasound of the hip joints,
the main purpose of which is to exclude (or confirm) hip dysplasia;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
As in previous cases, the main purpose of this research is to exclude congenital pathologies;
- Ultrasound of the urinary system;
- Ultrasound of the heart
(echocardiography).
Often, infants are prescribed a general blood test and a general urine test,
especially if he had (or continues to have) manifestations of physiological jaundice of newborns. The CBC and OAM must also be taken before each vaccination to make sure that the child does not have an acute viral disease, and vaccination is not contraindicated for him.
2 months
DOCTORS. Pediatrician
during a monthly examination, not only performs a standard set of procedures - measures the baby, weighs it, examines it, listens to the heart, answers questions from parents and gives them recommendations, but also evaluates the results of tests and ultrasounds that you did during this month. Based on them, he can give you additional recommendations.
VACCINATIONS.
According to the National Calendar, at the age of two months the child should receive the first dose
of the vaccine against pneumococcal infection.
2 months is the time to definitely decide whether you will vaccinate your baby against rotavirus infection,
because the first dose of the vaccine must be administered before 12 weeks. The vaccine is called Rotatec, is taken orally (no injections are given) and is given in three doses, separated by 4 to 12 weeks, but all three doses must be taken by no later than 32 weeks. Rotatek is not included in the National Calendar. However, preventing rotavirus is a very useful thing, since children get sick with it repeatedly and often seriously - with vomiting, diarrhea and fever, easily infecting adult family members. If you are vacationing on the Black Sea in the summer, you should think very seriously about vaccination - getting infected with rotavirus there is as easy as shelling pears.
3 months
DOCTORS.
At three months you will need to see
an orthopedic surgeon and neurologist again.
At this time, the innate reflex of standing on the legs begins to fade away - it is gradually replaced by a newly acquired one, necessary for standing and walking in the future. The doctor checks how the baby holds his head, the condition of his muscles, whether there is an umbilical or inguinal hernia, gives recommendations on developmental gymnastics, and may recommend a course of massage.
Last on the list of doctors to visit is, of course, the pediatrician.
Usually a visit to him is planned when all specialist doctors have already been completed, since he summarizes all the conclusions given by specialized doctors, developing final recommendations.
VACCINATIONS.
According to the National Calendar, at three months
a pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus
(DTP) vaccination is given, as well as
vaccinations against polio and against Haemophilus influenzae.
The latter is included in the National Calendar with the note “for risk groups,” but pediatricians recommend doing it, if possible. In domestic pharmacology, we are talking, accordingly, about three injections.
Since the domestic DTP is quite reactogenic, the French vaccine Pentaxim is popular among parents. Unlike DTP, it does not contain whole killed pertussis cells, but isolated pertussis toxoid, which reduces the risk of a reaction in the post-vaccination period. Pentaxim is a five-component vaccine; it develops immunity against all five of these diseases, that is, there is no need to vaccinate separately against polio and against hemophilus influenzae along with it. Another popular analogue of DTP is the Belgian Infanrix Hexa, it has six components: it also contains a component that protects against hepatitis B. If for some reason you missed vaccination against hepatitis B at 1 or 2 months (for example, you received a temporary medical exemption), this is the best option .
If you started immunizing your child against rotavirus infection on time,
at 3 months he needs a second dose.
4 months
DOCTORS.
Time for monthly check-up with
your pediatrician.
Usually, since this is a fairly calm visit, it is there that, in addition to the mandatory procedures, the parents’ plans for introducing complementary foods are discussed. For children on artificial and mixed feeding, pediatricians recommend starting complementary feeding at the age of four and a half months. For infants, this period comes later, sometimes after 8 months. Much depends on how the baby gains weight. Typically, hypoallergenic cereals are recommended for thin children, and vegetables for heavier children.
VACCINATIONS.
At 4 months, the child should receive the third and final dose of the
rotavirus vaccine.
(It is possible later: the interval between doses can be from 4 to 10 weeks. It is only critical that the first dose is administered no later than 12 weeks, and the third no later than 8 months.)
During the same period, you need to get a second vaccination against pneumococcal infection.
There are two different methods of immunizing children under one year: 3 times (at 2 months, 3 months and 6 months) and 2+1. If the first dose of pneumococcal vaccine was given after 6 months, then give 2 doses up to 12 months and once after 1 year.
5 months
DOCTORS.
Mandatory monthly visit to
the pediatrician.
In addition to the usual procedures, the pediatrician will evaluate the baby’s new skills - whether he leans on his hands or rolls over. If you have already started introducing solid foods, your pediatrician will ask questions about your baby's reaction to the new food.
VACCINATIONS.
The official recommendation of the National Calendar for
the second vaccination against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus,
as well as for
vaccinations against polio and hemophilus influenzae
is 4.5 months, but in practice they are much more often done at 5 months, since parents prefer to combine vaccination with the planned one. examination by a pediatrician.
6 months
DOCTORS.
Six months is an important milestone.
And again the time is approaching for a quarterly visit to the neurologist.
At the appointment, he will look at how the baby is developing, the state of muscle tone and the size of the fontanel. moves.
In six months you will need to see an orthopedic surgeon again.
By this age, many children begin to roll over and crawl, and some even sit up. An orthopedist will evaluate the development of the muscular corset.
Ophthalmologist
will conduct a standard set of studies to ensure the normal development of the baby’s vision.
The six-month examination ends with a mandatory visit to the pediatrician.
6 months is the time when the baby’s body is preparing for the eruption of its first teeth, and its gums may be very bothersome. This can cause sleep disturbances, restless behavior and even refusal to eat; before the appearance of the first tooth, the child may have a fever and a worse runny nose. The pediatrician will give you recommendations on how to make this difficult process as easy as possible.
VACCINATIONS.
At six months, the third and final dose
of whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine, polio vaccine, and Haemophilus influenzae vaccine is administered.
Also, at six months, a third
vaccination against hepatitis B
. A week before and another week after the scheduled vaccination, it is recommended to suspend the introduction of new foods into the diet. If your baby is already trying complementary feeding, take a break during vaccination (there is no need to cancel the products already introduced).
7 months
DOCTORS.
As usual, you should visit your pediatrician once a month
.
The older the young patient becomes, the more difficult these visits can be: the baby already clearly distinguishes “his” adults (whom he sees every day) from “strangers”, strangers, which include doctors. At the same time, his interest in the world around him is growing, so bright pictures on the walls, new toys in the clinic, smiling doctors and nurses are very important for a calm visit to the clinic.
8 months
DOCTORS.
By eight months, the child can already stand, holding onto support.
His games with toys become meaningful. He develops a food interest - he wants to try the food his parents eat. He is interested in other children, especially if they are older.
Most likely, it won’t be possible to put it on the pediatrician
9 months
DOCTORS.
Nine months is a new critical stage in a child’s development.
He is preparing to take his first steps, which means his ability to master the world around him will change dramatically. At 9 months the pediatrician
evaluates how the baby interacts with people and objects, whether he begins to babble, and what syllables he speaks. Important information will be how easily he falls asleep, what kind of sleep pattern he has developed, how the baby behaves during the day.
If the child is completely healthy, he does not need an additional visit to a neurologist and orthopedic surgeon at 9 months. However, the pediatrician can schedule an additional consultation with these specialists if something raises questions.
VACCINATIONS.
9 months is the age when you can get the first vaccination
against meningococcal infection.
It is not included in the National Calendar, that is, it cannot be done in a state clinic at the expense of the budget. However, modern pediatricians strongly recommend doing it. Meningococcal infection, unfortunately, has a high mortality rate, develops in a matter of hours, and often does not even have time to diagnose it, much less take the patient to the hospital before the changes are irreversible. In Russia there is no certified vaccine against meningococcal infection type B (in Europe there is one - this is the Bexsero vaccine), but it is possible to protect children from meningitis types A, C, Y and W-135 - the Menactra vaccine is available in our country. It is administered in two doses: at nine months and at one year.
10 months
DOCTORS.
At ten months, you need to undergo a monthly preventive examination with
a pediatrician
to re-evaluate the baby’s general health.
11 months
DOCTORS.
Of the doctors at 11 months, you will only have to visit
a pediatrician who has already become a good friend.
There are no surprises to expect - the procedure is familiar to you. If the baby has already started walking, the pediatrician will definitely look at how he does it and give his recommendations, but you will receive a detailed conclusion from the orthopedist in a month.
12 months
DOCTORS. Neurologist.
At one year old, he already asks questions about how many words and syllables the baby speaks, evaluates the formation of the pointing gesture and simple communication skills. Parents may think it is too early to ask questions about speech, but most children by this age already say at least one word.
It is also necessary to undergo a quarterly examination with an orthopedist every year .
By this age, many children begin to walk, and putting weight on the developing feet can cause varus or valgus deformities, so this visit is especially important.
At twelve months the child should be examined by an ophthalmologist.
If a one-month-old baby could not yet properly focus his gaze on an object, a one-year-old baby is already watching the toy with pleasure, and this makes it possible for early diagnosis of certain vision pathologies, for example, strabismus. A number of pathologies of the retina and lens are also excluded per year.
It's time to pay a visit to the otolaryngologist.
His area of responsibility is ear, nose and throat. You will undergo a routine preventive examination.
A year is a good reason to visit a pediatric dentist for the first time.
By this time, most children already have several teeth, and the dentist will be able to assess how the bite is developing and make useful recommendations for daily hygiene. They are especially relevant if the child still eats at night (breast milk, formula, in general, anything except water).
And, of course, a pediatrician.
After a year, you will only visit once every three months.
VACCINATIONS.
A vaccination against measles, rubella and mumps (mumps)
is given annually the Belgian Priorix is considered the best, but the domestic equivalent is often also given. It will protect the child almost until school, since revaccination is done only at 6 years of age.
If you have decided to vaccinate your son or daughter against meningococcal infection,
per year, it’s time for the second dose
of Menactra.
It is not included in the National Calendar, but the chickenpox vaccine, Varilrix, is recommended by pediatricians.
Although chickenpox is not considered a serious illness by many parents, it can occur in very different ways and, unfortunately, cause complications. Varilrix can be taken from 12 months. Simultaneous administration of Varilrix with Priorix (in different extremities) is acceptable; this does not reduce the effectiveness of immunization and does not increase the likelihood of a reaction in the post-vaccination period. However, if they were not done simultaneously, at least 30 days must pass between Priorix and Varilrix.
SURVEYS.
At 12 months it is necessary to do a
Mantoux
- including for those children who were vaccinated against tuberculosis in the maternity hospital.
The test allows you to determine whether a child has immunity to tuberculosis and whether he needs revaccination. Since the Mantoux reaction is assessed on the third day after the test, a visit to the pediatrician for assessment is usually combined with Priorix.
an ECG performed annually
especially if an additional chord of the left ventricle was previously identified, systolic murmurs were heard, etc. LVDC is considered a normal variant and, in the absence of cardiac symptoms, does not pose a threat to health.
If the child has not had an ultrasound of the urinary system
(sometimes they are limited to only ultrasound of the abdominal organs), then it must be done at 1 year.
In addition to a general blood test and a general urine test,
per year you still need to do
a general stool test,
as well as an additional
blood test for glucose.
OK it's all over Now! Happy first year to you!
The first year of a child’s life is the most difficult for parents. You have to absorb a huge amount of information, hear and read many different opinions and make your own decisions about how you will care for your baby's health. Our doctors are always ready to help you with this - with any questions, at any time. We wish you good health!
To call a pediatrician at home and receive comprehensive advice, contact our clinic specialists at the phone numbers listed on the website.
Experienced staff will help you and your baby cope with unpleasant signs of the disease and tell you how to provide your child with effective and safe treatment. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT PRICES
Preparation
In order for immunoprophylaxis to go smoothly at any childhood, it is best to prepare and not neglect basic methods of protection. This will help protect the baby from possible unpleasant complications.
Regardless of which vaccinations are given at 4 months, the preparation process is almost identical:
- Children prone to allergies are required to take antihistamines 2-3 days before the procedure. Non-allergy sufferers are also recommended to take these medications.
- Before the first DTP, it is necessary to take a general blood and urine test to make sure that the indicators allow vaccination and there is no hidden inflammatory process. If possible, it is recommended to get tested before each vaccination.
- A week before the planned procedure, new complementary foods cannot be introduced; nursing mothers are prohibited from eating new or allergy-causing foods.
- If during early examinations the baby showed any health abnormalities, it is necessary to re-visit the specialist who determined this. The doctor will give his opinion and give recommendations regarding the timeliness of the injection.
- A few hours before the vaccine is given, you can give your child a pain reliever.
This will not only reduce the likelihood of a rise in temperature, but will also relieve the patient’s unpleasant pain, especially after DPT. - Before going outside, you should measure your child’s temperature, excluding even slight increases. The child must be dressed for the weather so that he does not freeze or overheat on the way home.
- Immediately before vaccination, you need to visit a pediatrician.
The pediatrician must, based on tests and his own examination, give an opinion on the possibility of vaccinating the child. The last word always remains with the parents.
Procedure
The weakened virus, entering the body, awakens “healthy cells” and prepares them for future possible diseases. To destroy infectious antibodies, the immune system produces special substances. After which the person becomes immune to the viruses of a particular disease.
The vaccine is administered in several ways: most often intramuscularly, but also intradermally, subcutaneously, and cutaneously. Some are dropped into the nose or mouth.
The second DPT vaccination at 4 months is given into the muscle, just like the first time. Most often, the injection is performed in the front of the thigh, less often in the buttock.
This vaccination is painful, and if done incorrectly, a lump may occur. During the procedure, it is important to hold the baby tightly so that he does not turn his head or wave his arms. Otherwise he may get hurt.
What polio vaccination will be scheduled at 4 months? This will be the second injection; before this, a similar procedure was required at 3 months of age. The timing of immunization may shift, but one condition is important: a period of 45 days must be maintained between the first three vaccines. If the intervals are longer than this period, then the course is not interrupted, but in any case continues.
After three vaccines, a revaccination course begins. According to the Russian vaccination calendar, it is performed at the ages of 18, 20 months and 14 years.
The polio vaccine can be given via an intramuscular injection using killed germs. It is also possible to administer live attenuated poliovirus orally.
B
In the very first days of life, while still in the maternity hospital, the child is given two vaccinations at once. Within 12 hours of birth, a vaccination against viral hepatitis B, an infectious liver disease, is carried out. It repeats at 1 month and at 6 months. It is done intramuscularly into the thigh. This vaccination is currently mandatory in our country. The reason for this is the widespread spread of this dangerous disease. It is easily transmitted through blood. Contact with a microscopic dried droplet of infected blood is enough. Among the consequences of the illness are extremely dangerous complications: cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Thanks to vaccination, a person’s immunity against hepatitis B lasts up to 22 years of age.
After the procedure
The introduction of any vaccine is a great stress for the body, which is why it is given only to absolutely healthy children. Immediately after the procedure you cannot leave the medical facility; you must wait at least half an hour. During this time, the child’s condition and behavior are monitored.
After vaccination at 4 months, it is not recommended to go for a walk on the same day; the baby’s body has already received a heavy load and is busy developing immunity. The next day after administering the vaccine by mouth, if there are no negative reactions, you can go outside with your child. It is advisable to avoid visiting crowded places.
If after the adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccination at 4 months the temperature does not rise and allergic reactions are not observed, then on the second day after the injection the child can be taken out into the fresh air. The walk should be no more than an hour, at a comfortable temperature and favorable weather conditions.
Regardless of what vaccination a child has at 4 months, if it is administered intramuscularly, you cannot swim for three days after it. If the weather is particularly hot and no negative reactions are observed, the baby can be rinsed with water at room temperature. The main thing is not to steam the injection site.
When introducing attenuated infectious agents orally, it is forbidden to eat for an hour after the procedure.
Possible reactions of a child to vaccinations at 4 months
At 4-4.5 months, a second course of immunoprophylaxis is usually performed, so that the child’s parents are already aware of what reaction to expect from a particular vaccine. But even healthy children with no contraindications may experience reactions. Many of them are considered normal and mean that the body is successfully fighting the introduced microbes:
- One of the most common reactions of a 4-month-old child is fever after DTP and polio vaccination when administered with a syringe. But if there is a slight increase, there is no need to worry; you can give an antipyretic to reduce the fever.
If the temperature is above 38.5 and does not decrease when taking the medicine, it is better to consult a doctor. - In addition to fever, after vaccination at 4 months, babies experience an allergic reaction. It is accompanied by a rash and redness of the skin. Most often, DTP, which has a complex composition, is to blame for this.
- When an inactivated vaccine is administered, there may be thickening and redness at the injection site, as well as swelling in the form of a lump. An iodine grid and the application of cabbage leaves help.
- Children often experience drowsiness, apathy and lack of appetite after complex vaccinations. This behavior is considered normal and will go away in 2-3 days.
- In some cases, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, and vomiting are possible.
BCG – against tuberculosis
Between the 3rd and 7th day of life, the baby will receive another vaccination - BCG. It is done in the maternity hospital, just like the hepatitis B vaccination. The vaccine is administered intradermally, into the left shoulder. A small scar remains for life. In our country, almost all children and adults have it. Revaccination is carried out at the age of 6-7 years.
BCG is a vaccine against tuberculosis. What does tuberculosis have to do with it, even if it’s in the name?
Is there no such letter? I was also interested in this question. It turns out that the bacillus is called after the first letters of the surnames of two Frenchmen - microbiologist Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin, a veterinarian. Calmette is originally written as Calmett - the first Latin letter in this word is read in Russian as “C”. And Guerin begins with the letter “G”, in Russian it is read as “Zh”. Hence the name - BCG. A vaccine is being prepared from a strain of bovine tuberculosis bacillus, weakened and harmless to humans. Now it becomes clear why a veterinarian had a hand in its creation. The vaccine has been given to children in Europe since the 1920s. Since the middle of the last century, it has become mandatory in many countries.
Contraindications
It is forbidden to administer any vaccine if the child is sick, even if there is only snot. The period since the last illness should be at least 2 weeks. Also, vaccination is not allowed if there is diarrhea or vomiting.
What vaccination should not be given at 4 months if there are problems with the nervous system? This is DTP; its anti-pertussis component is especially dangerous. Sometimes in such situations, the doctor prescribes the ADS vaccine.
If a severe allergic reaction was previously observed after such a vaccine, then it is necessary to abandon it or replace it with a more gentle one. It is worth paying attention to an increase in temperature above 38.5 degrees, swelling at the injection site.
If a child has congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, it is necessary to refuse vaccination, since such children have very unstable reactions to vaccinations.
Taking the polio vaccine orally is contraindicated for babies intolerant to chicken protein.
Polio
Children are usually vaccinated against polio along with DTP. This disease is an acute viral infection that affects the gray matter of the spinal cord. As a result, spinal paralysis develops. The infection is contagious and is transmitted through dirty hands, food, and water. As a result, muscle atrophy, deformation of bones, spine and general or partial paralysis develop. Only 20-30% of those infected with polio recover completely, and 10% die from the infection. All others remain permanently disabled.
Differences between Russian and imported products
If the baby had negative and severe reactions during the first stage of vaccination, it is natural that the mother will want to protect him from this next time. Foreign-made vaccines can help avoid fever and allergies after vaccination at 4 months. Imported drugs have reduced reactogenicity; when using them, children are less likely to experience allergic reactions, but at the same time, their immunity fades faster after a routine injection.
Imported one-component drugs for polio - “Poliorix”, “Imovax Polio”. DPT substitutes - Pentaxim, Infanrix Hexa, Tetraxim - are multi-component, one vaccine can be vaccinated against polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.
Another significant difference between domestic and imported drugs is price. Russian vaccines are provided free of charge under the law “On Immunoprophylaxis of Infectious Diseases.” And, for example, a dose of the drug Pentaxim costs 2,300 rubles, which not everyone can afford.
The use of a foreign-made drug does not guarantee the absence of allergic reactions.
Is vaccination necessary?
Medical specialists and simply mothers of babies continue to debate whether there is a real need for vaccinations? Preschool and school institutions now accept children without a vaccination certificate, but still, pediatricians are trying to persuade parents to undergo immunization.
Whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio are deadly diseases for which children of the first year of life are a potential risk group. The final decision is up to the parents, but if there are no absolute contraindications, then immunization is recommended.
Vaccination does not provide a complete guarantee of immunity, but a child 4 months after vaccination will tolerate the disease much more easily without running a fatal risk. If a severe reaction occurs, you should pay attention to foreign medications.
The health of a child is priceless; it is in the first year of life that it is especially weak and is subject to numerous attacks. The task of parents is to take care of timely and comprehensive medical care, including vaccinations. The health laid down now will become the support of a little person for the rest of his life.
