Vaccinations for children: the pros and cons of vaccination, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of it. Which flu vaccine should you choose? Who should get the flu vaccine?

There are many opinions about the need for vaccination. Along with the undeniable benefits of vaccinations, there are many criticisms of why you should not get vaccinated or allow your children to be vaccinated. The question of whether vaccination is necessary or not is still under discussion. There are many pros and cons of vaccinations. Your opinion in to a large extent depends on who you communicate with and who you trust in this matter. Let's look at the main pros and cons of vaccination.

Pros of vaccination

1. Majority medical workers confident in the effectiveness of vaccinations.

Vaccination is believed to be the main reason for the decline in childhood diseases. Vaccinations also help keep you healthy as you enter adulthood.

1. Prevent life-threatening diseases.

Many of the infectious diseases and epidemics that killed thousands of people in the past no longer exist due to vaccinations. However, there are still some countries in which the causative agents of these infections remain, so vaccination is the most important measure precautions.

1. Protect yourself while traveling.

Just because a disease such as measles no longer exists in the United States does not mean it does not exist in other countries. When you get vaccinated, you are protected against diseases that you may not encounter in your own country.

1. Get it once and protect it for a lifetime.

Once you get vaccinated, you will no longer have to treat a potentially life-threatening illness. You also reduce health risks when you get the proper vaccinations.

1. Mostly simple and painless.

Although there are some vaccines that cause slight pain in the injection area, most are painless. They are also very inexpensive compared to the medical bills you might pay if you have contact with one of the most serious illnesses such as polio and measles.

Disadvantages of vaccination

1. Most vaccinations are only 90-95% effective.

Although vaccination will protect 95% of the population from the disease, there is still a 5% chance of getting sick. The idea that vaccination provides 100% protection against disease gives parents false hope. This allows parents to trust that their child will never contract the disease, even if there is a 5-10% chance.

1. Some people are more susceptible to infections than others.

A child whose mother used intravenous drugs during pregnancy is more susceptible to hepatitis and other diseases than a child born to a drug-free mother.

1. It is impossible to eradicate all diseases.

It is absolutely impossible to completely rid the world of all diseases. Not only do they constantly adapt and change, but different countries have various diseases. In addition, many people get sick after receiving the vaccine. Some people believe that vaccinations only create new diseases.

1. Conflict over moral beliefs.

Many people do not believe that they should be forced to take coercive measures. Many states allow moral and religious exemptions, but many require children to have certain immunizations before attending school. This leaves a section of society in turmoil because they are forced to do what they believe is immoral.

1. Immunity lasts longer if it is created by natural circumstances.

When a person contracts a disease, e.g. chicken pox, the body needs to create antibodies to fight the virus. This gives the body a chance to build up natural immunity that lasts longer, immunity acquired through vaccination.

You have learned what the pros and cons of vaccination are. This gives you the opportunity to do right choice in answer to the question whether to vaccinate this or that or not.

The first vaccine was created more than 200 years ago. Since then it has appeared great amount There are drugs for a variety of diseases, including the flu, but there has been no answer to the most important question - whether it is necessary to vaccinate. Flu vaccination has its pros and cons. Let's try to figure it out.

The Great and Terrible Flu

Flu viruses are spreading rapidly by airborne droplets when sneezing, coughing and even talking. The disease can be transmitted through personal belongings, household items, and children's toys. From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, 2 to 5 days pass; the patient’s body temperature rises sharply to 39 degrees and above. The person becomes irritable and develops headache, aches in joints and muscles, lethargy, severe weakness. A couple of days after the onset of the flu, a slight runny nose occurs. These late and not so late ones obvious signs, perhaps, the main difference between influenza and other viral infections that affect respiratory system. Doesn't happen with the flu intestinal disorders, if they occur, it means that some other infection has appeared, or the body reacts to treatment this way.

The severity of the flu depends on many factors: general condition health and age of the patient, whether he was infected with this virus previously. To paraphrase the saying - The devil is not as terrible as his little ones - we can say that the consequences and complications of the flu are much more dangerous than the disease itself. In some cases it causes serious damage of cardio-vascular system, lungs and even the brain. sharply reduces and can lead to fatal outcome in the elderly and children.

Flu is dangerous for everyone. Children are defenseless against it because they have not had time to develop antibodies, the elderly - because their antibodies “do not work” due to weakened immunity. main feature influenza is that a person who has had it remains susceptible to re-infection, because the virus of the disease is very variable.

Which flu vaccine should you choose?

To date, the most effective means recognized all over the world annual vaccination . In Russia optimal time for this procedure – October-November. Since the virus is active in our country from December to March, full immunity after vaccination will have time to form.

In the vast majority of cases, vaccines are administered by injection, but there are also alternative way– through the nasal mucosa. This reduces the risk undesirable consequences and is formed local immunity. Unfortunately, this method is acceptable only for a few vaccines.

Used to prevent influenza alive(with weakened viruses) and inactivated vaccines with dead pathogen viruses. The latter are divided into whole virion(contain whole viruses), split (split vaccines)(all proteins are taken from the virus, which ensures fewer side effects after a flu shot) and subunit(only surface proteins that are most necessary to form protection against influenza are used).

According to recent studies by domestic scientists, inactivated vaccines are well tolerated and highly epidemiologically effective. Along with other vaccines approved for use in Russia, inactivated Influvac (Holland) and Vaxigrip (France) are actively used. All of the above drugs meet the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia (protection level more than 70%) and are effective drugs for the prevention of influenza. Inactivated split vaccines also include Fluarix (Belgium), Begrivak (Germany), Grippol (Russia) and Agrippal (Germany).

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccination is necessary children aged from 6 months to 3 years, frequently ill children who attend child care institutions. Hospital patients, people with chronic diseases and immunity disorders, persons over 65 years of age. In this population group, the incidence is almost 10 times higher than in others age groups, and the vaccine not only protects against influenza, but also reduces the frequency and severity of heart attacks and strokes. Employees of hospitals and clinics, teachers and staff of child care institutions must be vaccinated annually. Be sure to get vaccinated if you have contact with babies under six months of age.

Inactivated vaccines are administered, starting from 6 months, intramuscularly or deep subcutaneously, to babies - in the anterior top part thighs, adults and adolescents - into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Vaccination against influenza can be combined with any other vaccinations (except anti-tuberculosis BCG).

Contraindications to influenza vaccination: increased sensitivity To egg white or other components of the vaccine, exacerbation of a chronic disease.

Pros and cons of flu vaccination

Despite all the admonitions of doctors, many people to this day believe that best medicine against flu - tea with raspberry jam. These irresponsible and illiterate medical point From view, citizens seriously risk not only their own well-being, but also the health of their children and even their lives.

The greatest threat from influenza and its complications lies in children, starting from 6 months of age, who catch the virus 3.5 times more often than adults. In children aged 6 months to 2 years, the likelihood of complications due to disruption of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems is extremely high. In 40% of cases, the flu leads to deafness! Remember this the next time you refuse to vaccinate your child. Are you really ready to take away his right to a healthy and fulfilling life?

According to statistics, about 85% of vaccinated children are absolutely resistant to influenza viruses, and those who do get sick tolerate the disease much easier, more short time and without complications. Quite a compelling argument in favor, isn’t it?

Many people recklessly refuse vaccines because they are afraid of complications. But in vain, after all side effects when using highly purified subunit vaccines of the 3rd generation (Influvac, Agrippal and Grippol) are practically reduced to a minimum. AND the best for that evidence – indications for use. These vaccines are allowed to vaccinate six-month-old children and pregnant women.

It happens that on the first day after vaccination the temperature rises (usually no more than 37.5 degrees), chills and weakness appear, but this is only general reaction body. It occurs in only 1% of vaccinated children and goes away quickly. In 4% of children, after vaccination, painful redness and swelling are observed at the injection site, which disappear within two days. Doctors say with authority: severe complications after vaccination in last years did not have!

The debate about the benefits and harms of flu shots will not subside until the last virus of this disease disappears from the face of the Earth. There are so many people, so many opinions, and only you can decide whether to get vaccinated or not. In any case, whether you have made a decision for or against, you must take into account all the contraindications. Especially when it comes to the health of your own child!

Pros and cons of vaccinations (vaccinations)

Existing order vaccination threatens the life and health of children - such a shocking conclusion was made by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (but this statement can without any doubt be applied to most CIS countries) after conducting investigations into the deaths of children after vaccinations. Law enforcement officials believe that doctors are negligent in examining children before vaccination, and parents do not receive complete information. So, what should parents know before allowing their baby to be vaccinated?

Disadvantages of vaccinations	Pros of vaccinations
Vaccinations undermine the immune system. After vaccinations, a child becomes susceptible to diseases that he, perhaps, would not have contracted without vaccinations. Vaccinations destroy natural immunity, given to a person from nature.	Vaccination only short term weakens the immune system, but overall it becomes stronger. The person doesn't have natural immunity, directed against pathogens severe infections. Vaccinations are the only way to protect yourself from them.
Vaccination is not a 100% guarantee that the child will not contract the disease against which he was vaccinated. No vaccine can completely protect against infection.	Even partial protection is better than none at all. In vaccinated children, even if they get sick, the disease progresses in more mild form and gives fewer complications.
The danger of many infections has been greatly exaggerated. It is better for a child to get chickenpox or measles himself and acquire lifelong immunity to them. The vaccine will not protect against these diseases for life; revaccinations are necessary, each of which is associated with the risk of complications.	The so-called children's and infections can also cause severe complications . Especially if they overtake adults who were not vaccinated against them in a timely manner and who did not have them in childhood: for example, rubella in pregnant women often leads to congenital deformities fetus
At breastfeeding Mother's immunity is passed on to baby, so there is no point in rushing to get vaccinated. Until the child’s immune system is one year old, it is better not to risk his health and avoid encounters with foreign proteins.	That small amount of maternal antibodies that is transferred from breast milk, does not protect against airborne infections . How younger child, the more dangerous the infectious disease is for him.
Every vaccine contains preservative chemicals, toxic to the body (mercury salts, aluminum hydroxide, formaldehyde), which can adversely affect the central nervous system, liver, kidneys.	IN modern vaccines concentration toxic substances minimized. Antibiotics, which will have to be taken if an unvaccinated child gets sick, can cause children's body no less, and perhaps even more harm.
There are no absolutely safe vaccines- any can cause serious complications that threaten the child with health problems or even death.	The diseases that vaccines protect against can cause disability and death., and the risk of such an outcome is hundreds of times higher than in the case of possible post-vaccination complications.
Widespread refusal of vaccinations will allow us to raise a generation of healthy people.	Widespread refusal of vaccinations can lead to epidemics of dangerous diseases.

Conclusion

Vaccination is absolutely necessary, otherwise it would not be approved by the medical community, but at the same time it is best to prepare in the most serious way, With useful materials By

A side effect of freedom of speech today is generating a huge amount of pseudoscientific information. This way, anyone with Internet access can speak out about a topic about which they have little understanding. Let's look at an issue that often causes active discussions today. Namely: the pros and cons of modern vaccine prevention and whether a flu shot is really necessary.

The “anti-vaccination fashion” was started by Galina Petrovna Chervonskaya, who in the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” in 1988, in the article “Just think of an injection,” stated that the vaccine against diphtheria contains toxic mercury. Alas, Chervonskaya, not being a doctor by training, did not understand what the toxicity of mercury is for the human body. And when the article was published in the newspaper, the refutation was already too late, the mechanism was launched. It is curious, but Chervonskaya, who is the unspoken leader of opponents of vaccination, does not call for complete refusal from vaccinations, but calls for reasonable vaccination, individual approach. Any reasonable doctor today is guided by this approach.

Since the first successful vaccination English doctor Jenner in 1796 cowpox, a lot of time has passed. During this time, medicine has made great strides forward, and today the market offers modern, high-tech, purified vaccines, which can contain the smallest split particles of protein from viruses or bacteria that cause specific disease, so-called split vaccines. Consequently, the infectious agent itself is not present in these vaccines. This means that it is impossible to get this infection.

The essence of vaccination, if translated into simple language, is for the immune system to “get acquainted” with the pathogen, “rewrite its passport data and special features”, and then at the “border”, when the microbe tries to penetrate our body, recognize it through specially trained "officers", memory cells immune system. Forewarned is forearmed. When the body is familiar with the potential “criminal microbe”, the response reaction will be quick and accurate, the “criminal” will be surrounded and neutralized. The disease will not develop at all or will develop in a mild form.

Many people who refuse vaccinations are guided by the following beliefs:

- “If your temperature rose on the first day after vaccination, it means you got sick with what you were vaccinated with.” This is not true.

Firstly, as we have already figured out, the pathogen itself is not there, which means you cannot get this infection from the vaccine.

Secondly, this is how your body reacts to the introduction of foreign material, it’s even good that the temperature has risen a little. This indicates that you have normal immunity that adequately responds to the administered antigen.

- “We got vaccinated, but then we still got sick”... This is what they often say after getting a flu shot.

Firstly, you most likely got sick from another viral infection. Viruses that cause damage to the respiratory tract huge variety. And secondly, if you really did get the flu, its course was definitely milder than if you had not been vaccinated. After all, vaccination does not 100% exclude the possibility that you will not get sick; it protects against generalized forms, from severe course, which can be fatal. Many people complain that during the epidemic they had a runny nose, cough and, for example, fever for two days, while they forget that half a million people die from the flu every year in the world.

- “I (an adult) good immunity, I very rarely get sick...” This is great news. However, perhaps you have children or elderly parents. You will experience a mild form of the disease, but there is a chance that you can pass the virus on to your loved ones who are less fortunate due to age or other circumstances, such as underlying illnesses.

The effectiveness of flu vaccination is 70-90% according to scientific data, which means that vaccinated people get sick 7-9 times less often than those who have not been vaccinated.

- “We read articles about complications, watched videos, etc. and they were afraid." Then take the next step, read articles, watch videos about diseases for which you can be vaccinated. Find out what the mortality rate was from infectious diseases when there were no vaccinations against them and compare the numbers. Compare the mortality figures from these diseases and the likelihood of complications from vaccinations.

“The diseases against which we are vaccinated today have not occurred for a long time or are extremely rare.” Eureka! This is direct evidence that vaccinations work, because the incidence of diseases has decreased, and some diseases disappeared precisely after the introduction of compulsory vaccination.

“Mortality rates from infectious diseases began to fall in developed countries before vaccination schedules were introduced.” The decrease in mortality on the charts of developed countries in the early and mid-twentieth century is associated with the development of medicine, the discovery of antibiotics, and an increase in the level of social culture, transition to a central water supply, sewerage, cleaning system drinking water, other methods of prevention.

I would compare the flu vaccination to wearing a seat belt in a car. Just because you're wearing a seat belt doesn't mean you're not vulnerable. However, it is foolish to argue with the fact that it is safer. It’s your personal decision whether you “buckle up” for the flu this year or not, but we strongly recommend it to you, because it’s no secret that prevention is easier than cure.

Dechko Andrey Aleksandrovich, pediatrician.

The disease has been known to the world for quite a long time. The first mention of this disease is presented in the form of an image of a man whose one leg is shorter than the other and his foot hangs down - these are the consequences of paralysis after suffering polio. Hippocrates described cases of polio. For a long time, the incidence of this infection was in small quantities, and society did not focus its attention on it.

The situation has changed since the 19th century. Number of children who fell ill paralytic form growing up, children who had polio became disabled for the rest of their lives. Scientists found out that the source of the disease was a virus, and began develop a vaccine against this disease. The research took a long time to progress; the study sample included only monkeys, of which there were few, and it was difficult to get more. At this time, the disease was growing, we were already talking about an epidemic.

At the beginning of the 20th century, humanity already knew that polio is contracted only once in a lifetime, and no one gets infected again. This means that the infection has developed immunity in the body, so vaccination and revaccination are the best way to fight against the disease.

In the 20th century it was created live attenuated vaccine for oral route of administration. The virus particles multiplied after entering the body, which led to the immune system reacting and producing antibodies that could protect a person from infection. However, there is a risk of complications, which are expressed in post-vaccination flaccid paralysis, this is one of the types of the disease.

There are 2 types of polio vaccines:

• inactivated for injection under the skin;
• liquid in drops that are administered orally.

Description of drugs for vaccination

Description
Oral	Every year causes cases flaccid paralysis in the Russian Federation; Consists of weakened poliovirus; Administered orally, into the oral cavity; Use for the second and third vaccines is allowed; Contraindicated in patients with immune system deficiency; For patients with increased risk get sick with polio; For vaccination of healthy children; In other cases, the vaccine is used for revaccination.
Inactivated	Complications rarely occur; Consists of killed poliovirus; Administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously; Children under one year of age and patients with weak immunity; If there is sensitivity to polymyxin B, neomycin and streptomycin, then it is contraindicated;

When to vaccinate?

Each individual country administers polio vaccinations according to its own schedule. This is due to the fact that each country has its own risk of getting sick from birth. Where infections still occur regularly, the vaccine is given in the first days after birth. In our country, vaccination occurs as follows:

• polio vaccine is administered at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months
• revaccination at one and a half years
• revaccination at 20 months
• The last revaccination is at 14 years of age.

In the Russian Federation, vaccination is often carried out according to following diagram: the first introduction at 3 months, the second at 4.5 months is carried out by the IPV method, and next vaccinations- with OPV. It is also important to get a booster vaccination against polio.

The type of vaccination and timing of vaccination may be different; this depends primarily on the health status of the little patient.

The local pediatrician has the right to make these changes, based on various data, including test results.

Side effects after vaccination:

There is a risk of nonspecific complications after polio vaccination in various forms, namely:

• swelling - local reaction, the vaccination site may turn red and be painful, but these sensations last for a maximum of 2 days;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• an itchy rash called hives appears on the skin;
• anaphylactic shock;
• Quincke's edema;
• body temperature is higher than normal;
• sore muscles;
• convulsions during fever;
• within 14 days increased activity.

The reactions listed above occur rarely and the cause, as a rule, is non-compliance with vaccination rules: the vaccine is administered to a person with low immunity or immediately after an illness.

When not to vaccinate

Vaccinating a child is a serious task and all responsibility mainly lies with mom and dad. Before vaccination, you must take a referral from your pediatrician for blood and urine tests, as the results will help your local doctor give report on the child's health status and tell him whether he can be vaccinated in the near future. The same requirements must be observed when revaccinating polio.

You cannot get vaccinated if your child has:

If your child has had an infection, you can get vaccinated against polio. no earlier than 14 days after recovery, provided that the blood test is good. Also, you cannot vaccinate if the baby is completely healthy, but someone around the child is sick at home infectious disease. If a child is about to be vaccinated, then a week before it you cannot start giving new foods.

Description of polio

Poliomyelitis is an infection transmitted orally or fecally. Therefore, people call it nothing more than “disease” dirty hands" Often the disease occurs without symptoms or manifests itself as acute respiratory viral infection, infection in the intestines. If the virus penetrates the central nervous system, then the disease occurs in severe form, the disease strikes spinal cord. A person sick with any form of this infection is contagious.

The virus penetrates into environment with feces, mucus from oral cavity and by air. Poliomyelitis is a fatal disease; there is no cure for it and vaccination is the only method of protection.

Poliomyelitis infection occurs:

• in case of non-compliance with personal hygiene rules;
• when drinking contaminated unboiled water;
• when eating dirty foods.

The course of the infection can be varied, this depends on the form of polio. The first stage is usually characterized by elevated temperature body, weakness, headache, frustration gastrointestinal tract and cramps. During the transition initial stage in the second, in unvaccinated patients, symptoms disappear, but paralysis occurs lower limbs, paresis, paralysis of the deltoid muscle, muscles of the face, trunk or neck.

Should my child be vaccinated against polio?

The polio vaccine should be given for the first time at 3 months, this is due to the fact that the child’s body is unstable and is not able to protect itself; the immunoglobulins received from the mother during breastfeeding run out by this period. No definite scientific results that the vaccine is effective and side effects may cause less harm than the consequences of a previous illness.

If the child has not been vaccinated, then the first stage will soon move into the second. In Russia this the vaccine is on the list mandatory vaccinations in the first years of a child's life. Every parent, in order to make a choice between vaccination and refusal, must think: have he seen outbreaks of polio, measles or smallpox among his friends and relatives? Introduction to practice everywhere preventive vaccination made it possible to protect the life and health of children in the modern world.

Foci of this infection still persist in Africa and the Middle East, this is due to poor living standards and low level medicine, including vaccinations. Tourism to the above countries is developing, this contributes to the penetration of infection into our country. Therefore, as many children living in the Russian Federation as possible should do polio vaccination for preventive purposes.

In our country, polio vaccination is done together with DTP.

Before you decide whether or not to get the polio vaccine, make sure you are well informed about the disease, the vaccine itself, its consequences, pros and cons.