The Importance of Early Childhood Vaccinations: Protecting Kids from Serious Diseases

Childhood vaccinations are one of the most important methods in preventing children from succumbing to deadly infections. In early Childhood The immune system is naive and unexposed and diseases like tuberculosis of the brain, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus can cause death or morbidity. This was what was happening early on in the 18th and 19th centuries. To reduce the loss of valuable lives the birth of the vaccination era took place in the 20th century and countless lives have been saved. Vaccines help to initiate the immune system' s defence response and hence the body is able to fight successfully when the actual infections occur.

There are 3 main types of vaccines available - the killed/ inactivated vaccines, the recombinant vaccines and the live attenuated vaccines. The killed vaccines are prepared from dead or inactivated organisms. They usually have side effects that occur on the same day with pain and fever. Examples - The Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus vaccine (DTwP). The recombinant vaccines are prepared from parts of the organism cell structure and are sometimes conjugated with other components. Examples - Hepatitis B vaccine. They do not have very significant side effects. The live vaccines are made from weakened or attenuated viruses or bacteria and usually have side effects of a mild viral illness occurring a few days to a week later. Example - Mumps, Measles and Rubella vaccine (MMR), BCG - for tuberculosis.

One of the most successful stories regarding childhood vaccine success is the eradication of Polio which was a crippling disease of children. The widespread coverage by the oral polio vaccine including the annual national pulse polio campaigns and the injectable inactivated polio vaccine has helped make India polio free. Certain vaccines are given in certain states in view of the endemic diseases in those states. For example - the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (JE). This vaccine helps protect against a very deadly brain fever that has no significant cure. This is now given as a routine in Karnataka as this disease is now been reported from coastal areas, but it is not yet a part of the national vaccination schedule.




Some childhood vaccines are compulsory and these are given in government and private centres as a part of the national program. There are also available optional vaccines which are not a part of the national program but do protect children from the specific diseases. These are available in only in private hospitals.

There have been numerous myths related to childhood vaccinations stating that the vaccines like MMR can cause autism, etc. Oral polio vaccine had a rare side effect of mutant virus causing the disease however now this risk has almost been eliminated by the use of the bivalent OPV along with IPV. Today's vaccines are highly safe and tested well and have very minimal and predictable side effects. Indian vaccine schedule begins at birth and is intensive in the 1st 2 years of life and is completed by 15yrs. Vaccines are hence the most important method in developing resistance towards deadly diseases and there should be no fear regarding vaccinating children.

(Dr Soundarya M, Paediatrician, KMC Hospital Dr B R Ambedkar Circle Mangalore)