Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to a person to develop their own antibodies that can fight a real infection. Thus, the body becomes more protected from external pathogens of the disease.
What vaccinations are given to a newborn baby in a maternity hospital
Vaccination of the child begins in the first days after childbirth. According to the generally accepted scheme, the baby is vaccinated against hepatitis B and BCG (against tuberculosis).
They were not chosen by chance, since the newborn does not have its own immunity to fight the infections around it. It is very easy to get infected with tuberculosis nowadays, because now it is widespread and easily transmitted even without personal contact with the patient. Usually, Koch's sticks are carried by airborne droplets and remain in the air (when a patient coughs, sneezes) for a long time. Children are most susceptible to this disease. The tuberculosis vaccine is given in the left arm just above the elbow. After it, a small scar remains. Usually it is easily tolerated, but sometimes there are side effects in the form of fever, irritability, abscess of the injection site, etc. It is done once, and after that, once a year, the child's reaction is checked - mantoux, which shows whether the amount of antibodies in the body is normal.
Hepatitis B vaccine is given in the child's thigh. Vaccination is carried out three times - at birth, per month and at six months of the baby. This is a common regimen and is recommended for all children. With an increased risk of infection, if a mother or someone from close relatives is sick, then it is done four times: at birth, a month, twice and a year. Hepatitis B is now a very common disease, it is transmitted mainly through the blood. It cannot be cured, but may be chronic. Its negative consequence is liver damage, which can lead to cirrhosis.
Why is a child vaccinated?
Whether to vaccinate or not, each parent decides for himself. By law, this is a voluntary matter. In any case, while still in the hospital, you write your consent or refusal to vaccinate. And the medical staff is obliged to take into account your desire.
Now it has become quite common to refuse all vaccinations. Many believe that they do not protect a person from the disease, but can only aggravate the situation when infected - lead to a more severe form of the disease. Moreover, the hepatitis B vaccine is generally modified. And the side effects are sometimes very severe, sometimes fatal (isolated cases). Because it is impossible to predict how a particular organism will react to a particular vaccine. And a newborn baby is still too weak to bear such a load. And supporters of this opinion either refuse vaccinations altogether or postpone them to a later date (at least for a year, when the child gets stronger).
Minors can only be vaccinated with parental consent. Therefore, your choice is very responsible, and this must be approached deliberately. If you decide to vaccinate your child, there are some rules to follow.
You cannot interrupt the course of vaccinations, otherwise they will simply lose their strength. For example, if hepatitis B is vaccinated three times at a certain interval, then missing more than three months of the term leads to ineffective vaccination and you need to start all over again.
Vaccinations should only be done by a doctor in special medical institutions, not at home. And also requires careful monitoring of the child after that. Therefore, the first vaccinations are given to the baby in the hospital in order to provide emergency assistance in case of a negative reaction.
The child must be absolutely healthy before vaccination. If you feel unwell, weakened immunity, the reaction to the vaccine may worsen.
And of course, carefully check what kind of medications you are administering to your baby, as well as compliance with all hygiene requirements.
