A baby is the biggest gift life can offer. The presence of a baby not only brings immense pleasure and makes you feel special, but also leads to the development of a loving and caring attitude. As a parent, it is our duty to ensure that our baby remains in the best of her health. Ensuring a healthy future begins with immunizing the baby against various life-threatening diseases that might strike due to negligence or leniency on this front. Follow the Baby Vaccination chart schedule and give your child the gift of life. Below is the list of the most important vaccines that you should give to the baby until he or she turns one year old:
Baby Vaccination Schedule:
1. Hepatitis B Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
Ideally, the baby should be given three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine. The schedule for Hepatitis B vaccine immunization is as follows:
- At birth
- 1-2 months
- 6-18 months
Precautions and side effects:
Always ensure that the vaccination of your baby is done by a pediatrician only. Babies are too sensitive to be experimented with. If the baby shows any sort of allergic reaction to any previous dose of the vaccine, the next schedule should not be followed. Soreness at the injection site can result initially but it heals with time. In case it doesn’t, please contact your pediatrician immediately.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine protects the baby against the Hepatitis B virus. Liver damage in later stages of life is a natural consequent if this vaccine is not given.
2. Polio Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
Four doses of Polio vaccine are recommended for the baby. The immunization schedule ideally is to be followed at the age group:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6-18 months
- 4-5 years
Precautions and side effects:
If the baby is suffering from fever, the vaccine should not be given. It should ideally be given only when the baby recovers from fever. Mild soreness at the injection site can result in some children; however, this is a temporary development and heals with time. No other serious side effect of polio vaccine has ever been observed.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine is a highly recommended. It protects against Polio, a highly infectious disease that can result in twisted limbs if the vaccine is not given. Ministry of Health, Government of India runs special campaigns throughout the country to immunize young children against this disease. Though India has been declared a Polio free nation, yet the virus can anytime re-establish itself.
3. DTaP Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
Four doses of DTaP vaccine are recommended for the baby. The ideal immunization schedule to be followed is at the age group of:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15-18 month
Precautions and side effects:
An infant who is less than 6 weeks of age should not be given this vaccine. If the baby gets a fever higher than 105 degree after giving the vaccine, you should consult your doctor before giving the next dose. Redness and swelling might occur at the vaccination site but this is temporary and gets better with time.
Benefits of vaccine:
The DTaP vaccine protects your baby against three diseases namely Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough.
4. Hib Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
Ideally, three to four doses of this vaccine are recommended for your baby. The immunization ideal schedule 00is to be followed at the age group:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12-15 month
Precautions and side effects:
If the baby is ill or has a high fever, you should wait for them to recover before you get the child vaccinated. Redness, pain, and swelling might occur at times but it gets better with time. No other serious side effect of this vaccine has been noted.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine protects the baby against any potential bacterial infection that affects them until they turn 5 years old.
5. Pneumococcal Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
Four doses of this vaccine are recommended for the baby. Ideally, the vaccination is to be done at the following age:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12-15 month
Precautions and side effects:
If the baby is suffering from high fever, you should wait until she gets better. Some children have allergic reactions to this vaccine and you should consult your doctor to examine your baby before giving this medicine. The baby might feel drowsy after the vaccine is given or may develop a mild fever.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine protects the baby from pneumococcal infection which was a very common reason for the death of babies until a few years ago.
6. Influenza A Vaccine:
Recommended Schedule:
One dose of Influenza A vaccine is recommended on yearly basis for the baby. Before the baby turns 1, the dose can be given at:
- 6 months
Precautions and side effects:
Babies younger than 6 months should not be given this vaccine. Those babies who have a severe allergy to flu vaccine should also not be given this vaccine before consultation with doctors. Soreness at the injection site is the only visible side effect of this vaccine.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine protects the baby from influenza virus which is a serious life-threatening condition in young babies and can even result in death.
- Rotavirus Vaccine
Recommended Schedule:
Two to three doses of Rotavirus vaccine should be given before the baby turns 9 months old. This vaccine is given orally. The immunization schedule for the vaccine to be followed is at the age group:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
Precautions and side effects:
If the baby is suffering from illness, the vaccine should not be given until the baby recovers. Those with a history of gastrointestinal illness should also not be given this vaccine.
Benefits of vaccine:
This vaccine protects the baby against rotavirus which can lead to severe diarrhea in young infants. The vaccine also strengthens the immune system of the child.
A healthy future is a prerequisite for a better life. If you follow the immunization schedule for your child in the true earnest, you will be gifting her better future and will go a step forward in fulfilling your duty as a parent.
Keep visiting this space for Top parenting information. You are sure to get some really great stuff here! 🙂
Note: The above vaccination chart schedule is taken from various sources over the internet and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.
