How to prepare a child for vaccination - basic rules for safe vaccination

What do you need to know before vaccination?

1. Before vaccination, you must complete and sign “informed voluntary consent to medical intervention.” Without this document, no one has the right to vaccinate your child, either in a clinic, or in a kindergarten, or at school. Only mom or dad can sign such consent. Other family members - grandparents, uncles and aunts are not legal representatives.
2. Before the procedure, it is necessary to undergo a doctor’s examination and assess the child’s well-being. He conducts a thorough survey to identify previous diseases, including chronic ones, allergic reactions to medications and dietary habits of the body. In rare cases, your doctor may order tests or recommend consultation with other specialists before vaccination.
3. Ask your doctor about possible post-vaccination reactions. He will tell you what to expect. For example, an increase in temperature is a normal reaction of a healthy child’s body.
4. Make sure that when carrying out vaccination, immunobiological drugs are used that are registered in accordance with Russian legislation. You must know for what and what kind of vaccine the child will be given. If in doubt, be sure to ask your doctor about everything.
5. If more than one vaccination is carried out on one day, then they are placed in different parts of the body and each with a new syringe.
6. If you missed the vaccination dates, you need to contact your pediatrician to set new dates.
7. If you have a vaccination certificate, take it with you on the day of vaccination. An immunization certificate is a document that records all the vaccinations given to a child from the beginning of life. The doctor will add information about the new vaccination there. If it is being done for the first time or you have not obtained a certificate before, then simply ask the doctor to issue you such a certificate.

The certificate will be useful before entering kindergarten and school, as well as when changing your pediatrician or when traveling long distances.

Preparing your child for vaccinations

Preparation for vaccination includes both medical measures and certain actions of the parents themselves, including the psychological preparation of the baby for vaccination.

Medical preparation of a child for vaccination

Immediately before vaccination, the child must be examined by a pediatrician. The doctor identifies contraindications to vaccination, examines him for the presence of the disease at the moment, and also prescribes tests to identify or confirm a particular disease.

Identification of contraindications. Preparation for vaccination is primarily necessary in order to identify contraindications for vaccination in time, which is what the pediatrician will do when examining the baby.

The introduction of any vaccine, like any other foreign substance (medicines, food, other substances, such as bee venom), can cause severe allergic manifestations - an anaphylactic reaction, which, in the absence of emergency help, leads to respiratory failure, a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and life-threatening condition. It develops a few minutes after vaccination, less often – after 3–4 hours. Fortunately, such reactions are extremely rare and isolated throughout the world.

Vaccinations for a child should be done in a specialized institution that has everything to provide qualified assistance in the event of anaphylactic shock (there is a treatment room, the necessary medications, and experienced medical staff). You must remain under a doctor's care for at least 30 minutes after vaccination.

Analyzes and examinations. At 3 months before the start of vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, which is carried out at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months according to the national vaccination calendar, the doctor issues a referral for general blood and urine tests, the results of which are necessary to decide on the possibility of starting vaccinations. In the future (at 4, 5, 6 months) before DPT vaccination, the doctor decides on the need for these tests individually and prescribes them only if there are indications.

At 1 year of age, before the Mantoux test (testing method for tuberculosis) and vaccination against measles, rubella and mumps, general blood and urine tests must be taken. It is also recommended to consult all specialized specialists (neurologist, orthopedist, otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist) for a more complete assessment of the child’s health status and his readiness for vaccination with a live vaccine. Immediately before vaccination, the child must be examined by a pediatrician.

Personal vaccination calendar for your child

Independently preparing a child for vaccinations

Before vaccination, you need to buy antipyretic drugs (your pediatrician will help you decide on the choice of such a drug), because after the vaccine is administered, the child may have a fever. It is advisable to choose products in candles, since the fragrances contained in syrups can cause an allergic reaction.

You should not give your baby new complementary foods, and a nursing mother should not expand her menu in the first three days after vaccination, as culinary innovations can cause an intolerance reaction in the baby.

The psychological preparation of the child for vaccination is also important. The following recommendations can be given to parents of children under one year of age:

• never allow an injection to be given to a sleeping child, so as not to frighten him;
• try to distract the baby before the injection so that he does not see the very moment of administering the medicine;
• It is desirable that during vaccination the child is in the arms of his mother or another loved one (feeling protected) and is in a good mood (not sleepy or hungry).

Never scare older children, even as a joke, with injections and vaccinations. If the child is interested in the injection, tell honestly that it will hurt a little (but not much), for example, “how a mosquito will bite,” or read a fairy tale to the child, show the cartoon “About the hippopotamus who was afraid of vaccinations.” Take your baby's favorite toy with you to the clinic. At home, you can play doctor with toys so that your baby can give them injections himself.

After the child's vaccination

Parents should be aware of possible expected reactions to the vaccine. These include:

• increased body temperature;
• child's anxiety (due to fever or pain);
• slight swelling or redness at the injection site that appears within the first 48 hours after vaccination,
• irritability;
• drowsiness, sleep disturbance;
• lack of appetite;
• loose stools and vomiting.

All of these reactions do not occur very often in children after vaccination; children usually tolerate vaccinations well, and severe reactions, such as anaphylactic shock, are extremely rare. But still, the baby’s condition must be monitored very carefully.

Measure your child's temperature 2 times a day, morning and evening, during the first 48 hours after vaccination if you think it has increased. If the temperature rises above 38.5°C, it is necessary to give the baby an antipyretic drug (check the dosage in advance with your pediatrician or use the instructions included with the medicine). After the first dose of an antipyretic, call a pediatrician to examine your baby, since the cause of the increase in temperature may not be vaccination, but, for example, an infectious disease. It should be noted that when vaccines against measles, rubella, and mumps are administered (they are usually administered simultaneously), the baby’s temperature may increase from the 4th to the 14th day after vaccination. Also during this period, a rash on the body, a runny nose, coughing, and a slight increase in the salivary glands and lymph nodes may appear. The appearance of such symptoms indicates that the child is suffering from a mild form of one of the diseases for which he was vaccinated. But parents need to remember that such children, if infected with a wild (not vaccine) virus, would develop a severe form of the disease. I would like to emphasize that a baby in such a situation cannot infect others with measles, rubella or mumps, since the vaccine type of virus is not released through the respiratory tract and the baby cannot be a source of infection, which distinguishes them from wild viruses. However, in all these cases, you also need to consult a doctor to determine whether these phenomena are related to vaccination or whether there is an independent disease.

Observe the site where the vaccine is administered. If swelling and redness appear at the injection site, if this causes anxiety and pain in the baby, you can apply a cool cloth or cotton pad moistened with water for 3-5 minutes, but usually even large swellings do not cause pain in children and disappear on their own within 7 -10 days.

If swelling appears at the injection site, show your child to the doctor in any case. Seek immediate advice if there is significant pain, marked redness and swelling at the vaccine injection site.

Separately, it should be said about the reaction at the injection site after BCG administration. Usually, after 4–6 weeks, in children vaccinated during the neonatal period, a swelling with a diameter of up to 10 mm with a small crust in the middle appears at the injection site; in some cases, the formation resembles an abscess. It goes away without any treatment within 2–4 months, and sometimes longer. After this, a scar is formed, usually with a diameter of 3 to 10 mm.

Vomiting and loose stools are rare after a child’s vaccination, they occur once and do not require special treatment. But if your child has repeated vomiting or frequent loose stools, call your pediatrician: this may be a manifestation of an intestinal infection, and not a reaction to the administered vaccine.

Try to pay more attention to your baby after vaccination; affection and care on your part during this period will help the baby to bear all the troubles more easily.

One of the myths is the recommendation not to bathe a child on the day of vaccination and not to walk with him. In fact, it is only important not to miss the rise in body temperature in the baby. Fresh air and a shower in the evening under your careful supervision, if it pleases your baby, will help cope with general malaise after vaccination, even if it has arisen. It is advisable to avoid a hot bath in the first two days after vaccination: if at this moment the baby’s temperature begins to rise due to the vaccination, and you did not notice it, a hot bath may cause an increase in fever.

Emergency situations

Post-vaccination reactions are extremely rare, but they do occur. You should call an ambulance after vaccination in the following cases:

1. The child has a temperature of more than 39°C, which does not decrease with the use of antipyretic drugs.
2. The baby looks pale or lethargic.
3. The child has been crying for more than 3 hours and you cannot calm him down.
4. The baby's crying seems strange to you, different from usual, the baby cries in a high-pitched voice.
5. The baby trembles, shudders, or has convulsions.
6. The child became noticeably more passive and inhibited.

When should a child's routine vaccination be postponed?

Routine vaccination is postponed until the end of acute manifestations of the disease (most often ARVI and influenza) and during exacerbation of chronic diseases. For acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and acute intestinal diseases, vaccinations are carried out after the baby’s temperature and condition have normalized. In order not to miss the onset of ARVI in a child, on the day of vaccination, the pediatrician should examine the baby immediately before vaccination. If someone at home is sick with a viral infection, and the child has been in contact with him, it is also better to postpone vaccination for a period determined by the pediatrician.

If the baby has a chronic disease, then the vaccination is done outside the period of exacerbation of the disease; its timing is determined by the doctor. This also applies to allergic diseases, for example, atopic dermatitis (it is manifested by skin rashes on open areas of the body - face, hands - and itching), bronchial asthma (manifested by attacks of suffocation due to spasm of the bronchi and swelling of their mucous membrane). Vaccination is carried out during the period of subsidence of allergic manifestations; antihistamines (anti-allergic) drugs can be prescribed for 2-3 days before the intended vaccination and for 3-5 days after it. The child must be prescribed a hypoallergenic diet, which should be discussed in detail by an allergist or pediatrician; During this period, it is not recommended to introduce new types of food.

List of medical contraindications for preventive vaccinations (order No. 375 of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation)

How to keep your child calm?

1. You should not scare a child with doctors - say “uncle will swear”, “you’re the only one here who’s afraid” and other phrases that seem to be aimed at increasing courage. This can leave a negative impact on all subsequent visits to the clinic and on taking care of your health in general.
2. If the child is an adult, explain to him why vaccinations are needed and what the doctor will do.
3. If your child asks if the vaccine hurts, be honest with him. Say that this is not very pleasant, but it is temporary and will pass in a few minutes. Tell them that you also did such injections, and nothing bad happened. This way you will calm the child and at the same time prepare for the vaccination.
4. For peace and comfort of the child, you can take his favorite toy.
5. Try not to worry yourself. Children feel everything, feelings and anxiety are easily transferred from parent to child. Behave calmly and confidently, communicate, play, do not be silent and smile at your baby. We know there will be a little anxiety, but try to deal with it.
6. If a child wants to cry, let him cry. There is no need to scold him for his tears and say that crying is shameful and ugly.
7. Do not rush to quickly leave the clinic after the procedure. Stay near the office for a while, let the child calm down, drink water or tea together. Firstly, the child will understand that this area is safe for him, and secondly, doctors will be able to provide assistance in case of undesirable reactions to the vaccine.

Preparing for PDA

MMR – measles, mumps, rubella, vaccination is given at 12 months, revaccination at 6 years. Immunity after vaccination lasts for 10 years.

Vaccines against these diseases are different and may contain 1, 2 or 3 weakened viruses. The missing components are introduced separately.

If your baby does not have chronic diseases or allergies, then preparation for vaccination is standard - general tests and examination by a pediatrician.

To prevent possible complications, doctors recommend giving your child any antihistamine a few days before vaccination and for 2-3 days after it.

If your baby is often sick, ask your doctor to choose a safe restorative medicine for you, start giving it 1-2 days before the procedure. If there are pathologies of the nervous system, special therapy is prescribed that will prevent the development of exacerbation of the chronic disease.

Side effects after PDA may appear within 5-15 days.

These rules are also relevant before the introduction of BCG and polio vaccination.

Calendar of preventive vaccinations for children

Every year until the age of 15, a child undergoes tuberculin diagnostics (Mantoux test)

Vaccination protects human health at every stage of life

Five reasons to get vaccinated:

1. Prevent unnecessary suffering associated with the disease.
2. Prevent the development of complicated forms of the disease.
3. Prevent negative impact on family plans.
4. Availability of a wide range of vaccines with a high safety profile and preventive effectiveness.

Possibility of individualization of immunization: the use of different vaccination schemes and methods to create sufficient immunity in each vaccinated person

Immunization is a method of creating artificial immunity in people and animals.

How to check a vaccine before vaccination?

To ensure the quality of the vaccine used, several points must be taken into account. Start with storage conditions. The ampoule with the vaccine should be kept in the refrigerator. Storing the vaccine in the freezer or on the door is unacceptable.

To make sure that the dose was not frozen, you need to look at the cap containing the vaccine composition. The temperature marker on its lid should be the same color as the inscription.

A changed shade of the marker indicates that the composition cannot be used. Next, you need to check the vaccine instructions. It must contain data on the registration of the drug in the Russian Federation.

It is also necessary to check the laboratory control certificate. The batch number indicated in this document must necessarily match the number on the packaging.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that the ampoule with the vaccine is opened immediately before administration. Otherwise, the use of the vaccination composition should be abandoned due to violation of storage rules.

Checking the listed points will be enough to ensure the quality of the vaccine used and protect your child from possible complications and side effects.

What side effects can you expect from vaccination with Sputnik V?

At vaccination points deployed in Moscow, all those vaccinated against coronavirus are given a special leaflet that lists the main side effects. RIA Novosti reports this.

• Weakness and nausea occur in 10% of vaccinated people.
• Aches, chills, fever and headache, temperature above 37 degrees - in 5.7% of those vaccinated.

If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, it is recommended to take an antipyretic and pain reliever, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If medications do not help, the temperature rises above 39 degrees and does not decrease within four hours, you must call a doctor.

• Pain, itching, swelling and redness at the injection site are observed in 4.7% of vaccinated people. In this case, if there is severe discomfort, it is recommended to take antihistamines.
• 1.5% of patients may experience nasal congestion, runny nose or sore throat. In these cases, it is advised to gargle, use nasal sprays and drink plenty of fluids.
• Less than 1% of patients may experience increased heart rate or increased blood pressure.

If you have already completed the first stage of Sputnik V vaccination, fill out our anonymous survey.