Do children need all vaccinations? Is it worth it to vaccinate children or is it better to refuse them?

As a person who has worked for quite a long time in infectious diseases hospital, I declare with confidence: in relation to all diseases against which vaccinations are done, the likelihood of disease remains very real. Children get sick with these diseases, and the outcomes are, to put it mildly, different. Therefore, for normal, sensible and prudent parents there is and cannot be any discussion about whether vaccinations should be done or not.

Definitely do it!

A completely different question is that the response to vaccinations depends very significantly on the state of the child’s body. And if you are very afraid, then the logic is not not to vaccinate. The logic lies in the targeted preparation of the body: in a normal way life, natural feeding, hardening, eliminating contacts with sources of allergies, etc.
Vaccinations must be carried out at the time prescribed by the pediatrician, and the more accurate they are, the higher the preventive effectiveness. This should definitely be taken into account when planning, for example, a summer vacation; It would be nice to ask yourself when and what kind of vaccination should be done.
Each country in the world has its own, approved by the relevant government agency calendar preventive vaccinations. This calendar takes into account the age of the child, the interval between vaccinations and the list of specific diseases for which vaccinations, in fact, are given.
What is the essence of preventive vaccinations?
Injected into the body medical drug - vaccine. In response to the introduction of a vaccine, the body produces special cells - specific antibodies, which protect a person from the corresponding disease.
Each of the vaccines has its own strictly defined indications, contraindications and timing of use, its own schedule and its own routes of administration (orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally).
The body reacts differently to each vaccine. In some cases, one vaccination is enough to develop long-term immunity. In others - necessary multiple injections. This is where two medical words came from - vaccination And revaccination . The essence of vaccination is to achieve the production of specific antibodies in quantities sufficient to prevent a specific disease. But this starting (protective) level of antibodies gradually decreases, and repeated administrations to maintain them (antibodies) required quantity. These repeated injections of the vaccine are revaccination.
The expression we mentioned “reacts differently” refers not only to the quality and timing of the formation of immunity, but also directly to the responses of the child’s body. Reactions that both doctors and parents can directly observe (violation general condition increase in body temperature, etc.).

The severity and likelihood of these reactions are determined by three factors .
The first one - we have already talked about it - the health status of the specific child being vaccinated.
Second - quality and properties of a specific vaccine. All vaccines approved for use (certified) by the World Health Organization (and only such vaccines are used in our country) have high preventive effectiveness, and there is not a single one among them that is obviously bad or of poor quality. However, vaccines different manufacturers can accommodate different doses antigens, differ in the degree of purification and in the type of preservative substances used. In addition, vaccines, even those intended to prevent the same disease, may differ from one another in the most fundamental way - for example, they may be a drug created based on a living but weakened microbe, or a drug based on a killed microbe (or even part this killed microbe). It is clear that if a microbe, although weakened, is alive, there is always a possibility of developing a disease (the very disease for which the vaccine was given), but with a killed microbe there is no such probability.
Third factor - actions medical workers . Vaccination - This is not an ordinary standard process, according to the principle “inject everyone at three months,” but individual, very specific and very responsible actions that a specific doctor carries out in relation to a specific child. And these actions are not at all as simple as they might seem at first glance. It is necessary to assess the child’s health status, select a vaccine preparation, and give the baby’s relatives clear and available recommendations regarding how to prepare a child for vaccination and how to treat him after it (food, drink, air, walking, bathing, medications). It is also very important to scrupulously observe many vaccination subtleties: how to store the vaccine correctly, how to heat it before use, where to inject it, etc.

Now a few words about specific vaccinations from specific diseases.
The very first graft- this is a vaccine against tuberculosis (the famous anti-tuberculosis vaccine called BCG).
It is usually done directly in the maternity hospital on days 4-7 after birth, once. In the future, theoretically, revaccination is carried out at 7, 12 and 16-17 years. Why theoretically? Yes, because the question is whether to do or not to do revaccination against tuberculosis, largely depends on Mantoux reactions. This reaction is given to children every year, but the vast majority of parents have no idea what it is or what it is for.
The fact is that almost every person sooner or later becomes infected with the tuberculosis bacterium, that is, the microbe enters the human body. But the fact of infection does not at all indicate that a person has contracted tuberculosis. Let's say a microbe has entered, and the body, thanks to the same vaccination, has a protective amount antibodies- the disease does not develop, although the tuberculosis bacterium is present. Mantoux test - is not graft, this is a test for tuberculosis infection. Expression " not a vaccination, but a test"very important. After the tests there are no general reactions - the temperature does not rise, the state of health does not change. Local reaction, i.e. directly in the place where they were injected, it may well be that this is actually why the test is done.
If there are no tuberculosis bacteria in the body, the test is negative, but after infection it becomes positive.
How is all this done in practice? The child is given a Mantoux test every year; it is, of course, negative, but then, at one not-so-wonderful moment, the test turns from negative to positive. Doctors call this a turn tuberculin test, and this same turn sooner or later occurs in almost all people, but for one at 3 years old, and for another at 12 or 19. And here a very responsible situation arises. It is necessary to get an answer to a very fundamental question: a person became infected, but did not get sick, naturally because he had immunity, or infection led to the development of a disease - there were not enough protective antibodies.
Doctors and tuberculosis specialists (TB specialists) answer this question. To do this, the child is examined, certain tests are taken, and, if necessary, an x-ray of the organs is taken. chest. Depending on the results, the doctor makes an appropriate conclusion. Tuberculosis has been detected - we treat tuberculosis, questionable results - course preventive treatment special anti-tuberculosis antibiotics, everything is fine - everything is fine, but revaccination now there is no need to do it - anti-tuberculosis immunity will no longer be supported vaccine, but by a microbe directly entering the body. And the task of doctors is not to let such a child out of sight, to register and regularly examine it in order to promptly identify a situation when the body cannot cope and will still have to be treated.
At the age of about 3 months, vaccinations begin directly at the clinic. For three injections with an interval of 1-1.5 months, carry out vaccination against four diseases at once - polio (the vaccine is liquid, it is dripped into the mouth) and whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus - this is an injection. Used vaccine, which is called DTP: one drug and against three diseases at once (K - whooping cough, D - diphtheria, C - tetanus). In the second year of life it is carried out revaccination from all these diseases.
At one year of age, a vaccination against measles is given, at 15-18 months - against mumps (mumps).
Preventive vaccination calendar is constantly being revised. It depends on the epidemic situation, the emergence of new vaccines, availability of funds from the state. The modern calendar provides, for example, vaccinations against hepatitis B, but they are almost never done anywhere - there is no money for the vaccine. Specifically timing of specific vaccinations you can always check with your pediatrician.

After any vaccination (any!) the body may have a reaction - increased body temperature, refusal to eat, lethargy. This is normal: the body produces immunity(protection) to a specific disease. Alone vaccines are very easily tolerated and almost never cause serious reactions - a typical example is - vaccine against polio. The administration of other drugs, on the contrary, is often accompanied by a pronounced increase in temperature and a significant disturbance in the general condition of the child - again, a typical example is the pertussis component of the DTP vaccine.
It is very important for parents to understand the fundamental difference between reaction for vaccination and complication after vaccination.
Reactions to vaccination, to one degree or another, simply must be and this, as we have already noted, is absolutely normal.
What are complications? This is exactly what should not happen, which happens extremely rarely. There should be no convulsions, no loss of consciousness, no temperature above 40 °C. The child should not be covered from head to toe with a rash, and there should be no suppuration in the place where the injection was given.
Complications after vaccinations- it's always serious. Each such case is analyzed in detail, the whole medical commission decides why this happened and what to do next? Vaccinate or not, if yes, then with what drug and for what diseases.
When is it possible and when not to get vaccinated?
First of all, remember that any graft is done to a child who at this moment does not have any acute infectious disease - no runny nose, no diarrhea, no rash, no fever. Why is the absence of an infectious disease important? Yes, because any . In order to respond to vaccination correctly and work out sufficient quantity antibodies, the body should be more or less free from other matters, in turn related to the production immunity. From here there are two conclusions: if a child has a leg in a cast, then this is not contraindication to vaccination. If any disease, even an infectious one, occurs with a normal temperature and an undisturbed general condition, it is clear that such a disease does not carry a significant burden on immunity and is not contraindication to vaccination.
There are exceptions to the above rule. Some infectious diseases specifically affect those cells human body who are responsible for development of immunity. These are, for example, chicken pox and Infectious mononucleosis. That is, if a child has chickenpox, then normal temperature and satisfactory general condition are still not a reason to do vaccinations. But exceptions only confirm the rules - moderate sniffing in a generally cheerful state allows vaccinations do.
Some suffered by the child infectious diseases cause long-term weakening protective forces organism and this, in turn, is contraindication to vaccinations for a certain period (about 6 months after recovery). These diseases include meningitis, viral hepatitis, the infectious mononucleosis we have already mentioned.
At the same time, to do or not vaccinate- a question that falls solely within the competence of the doctor. For each disease - allergic, congenital, neurological, etc. - corresponding rules have been developed: how, when and with what vaccinate.

How to prepare for vaccination?

There is no need to do anything special. Well, maybe avoid experimenting with food in every possible way - don’t give any new products.
Remember: prepare healthy child It is impossible to vaccinate with any medicines . Any drugs that supposedly make vaccination easier to tolerate: “vitamins”, homeopathic remedies, herbs “for blood vessels”, beneficial bacteria, drops “for immunity”, etc., etc. - all these are popular methods of psychotherapy for mom and dad, an attempt to implement the widespread mental principle “well, we have to do something” and the business of the manufacturers (distributors) of these medicines.

And a few more tips:

• the less stress on the digestive system, the easier the vaccination is tolerable . Never force your child to eat. Don't offer food unless asked. The day before vaccination, limit the volume and concentration of food you eat if possible;
• don't feed (nothing) at least an hour before vaccination;
• going to the clinic for vaccination, very, very try not to overdo it with clothes . It would be extremely undesirable if the vaccine is given to a heavily sweating baby with a lack of fluid in the body. If sweaty people still arrive at the clinic, wait, change clothes, and give them a good drink;
• 3-4 days before vaccination Limit your child's interactions with people as much as possible. (children). Don't look for infections: if possible, avoid crowded events, shops, public transport etc.;
• while in the clinic, curb your sociability . Stand (sit) aside, reduce your contacts. Ideally, put dad in line and take your baby for a walk in the fresh air.

Actions after vaccination

1. Walk!!!

Try to underfeed a little (if you have an appetite) or feed only according to your appetite (if your appetite is reduced or absent).

Drink more - mineral water, dried fruit compote, green, fruit, berry tea.

Clean cool moist air.

Limit communication with people as much as possible - the child develops immunity, his body is busy. Other microbes are undesirable to us now. And the source of these other microbes is other people.

If the body temperature rises and there is a significant disturbance in the general condition, a doctor’s examination is required, but paracetamol in any form (suppositories, tablets, syrup) can be given. The higher the body temperature, the more relevant the rules set out in paragraphs 2,3 and 4.

If your child gets sick after vaccination

On Friday Petya was done vaccination, on Monday he started coughing, and on Wednesday the doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia. Eternal questions: why did this happen and, of course, who is to blame?
From the parents' point of view, the vaccination is to blame - this fact is obvious and lies on the surface - I don't really want to go deeper. In fact probable reasons three:

Incorrect actions immediately after vaccinations.

Additional infection, most often, an acute respiratory viral infection against the background of “busy” immunity.

Decline immunity in general - “thanks” to appropriate upbringing.

So who is to blame and what to do to prevent this from happening? The question is rhetorical, because it is obvious that the child’s ability to respond normally to vaccinations largely depends on the system of care and education. And this is entirely within the competence of the parents.

Fear of vaccinations today is akin to medieval obscurantism. It spreads very actively, the main source is social media and personal communication between “caring mothers.” Unfortunately, most of them know about medicine only by hearsay or come from own experience communication with local would-be doctors.

Yes, vaccinations can cause certain complications. First of all, it is an allergy to proteins, on which many vaccinations are based. When a child’s immunity is weakened by a disease, the manifestation of the disease for which the baby was vaccinated is also possible. However, even in this worst case, the disease will have much less strength than possible, and therefore less consequences. With allergies it’s even easier: tests with an allergist will allow you to choose the right vaccine and accompanying therapy.

El Alvi/Flickr

Although parents are usually not worried about these problems... For some reason, the main misconception is related to the possibility of developing autism in children who have received the vaccine. However, in 2005, a US research group analyzed data on almost 100 thousand children and found no link between measles, rubella and mumps vaccinations and the development of autistic disorders.

An article published in The Journal of the American Medical Associations presented the results medical research children different ages vaccinated with the MMR trivaccine against measles, rubella and mumps. The children were divided into three groups: healthy children, children with autism spectrum disorders, and children with a brother or sister diagnosed with autism.

After analyzing the data, scientists did not find a connection between vaccination and the development of autistic disorders. Neither in healthy children nor in children at risk. Other studies have shown the same.

Much more dangerous than a child do not vaccinate. IN Lately due to deterioration in quality medical care outbreaks have become more frequent in the CIS countries fatal diseases. Local epidemics also occur periodically. Measles, mumps and scarlet fever have become commonplace. In some countries, polio, which has been eradicated almost throughout the world, still exists. And tuberculosis is ubiquitous even in Russia, and cases of belated isolation of people with open form diseases. All these diseases are deadly for children. Tuberculosis and polio leave terrible marks: the child becomes disabled.

It is worth remembering about, perhaps, the most terrible disease- tetanus. Vaccination against it is done literally in the first days of life. And for good reason.

The causative agent of tetanus is akin to gas gangrene, is able to live in airless space. And thin children's skin and the widespread distribution of microorganisms that cause tetanus can lead to death even from a minor injury, scratch, bruise, or pinching.

It will be too late to vaccinate at this point - the disease develops very quickly and cannot be treated.

Of course, only a parent can decide whether to take risks or not, whether to vaccinate or not. But if you have not vaccinated your child, do not forget to isolate him from other children. After all, they can be carriers, since they are immune to fatal diseases.

Better yet, take your unvaccinated children to a place where contact with people is excluded. Do not increase the epidemiological level. Don't become the cause of mass infection.

Very often, mothers of small children wonder: is it necessary to get vaccinated in such a time? early age? Adults also ask a similar question. It arose due to the fact that vaccination is not considered mandatory by law. There are two opinions on this matter. Some believe that it is necessary to vaccinate both children and adults according to the vaccination calendar, while others aggressively defend their reluctance to vaccinate. Who is right?

Are vaccinations necessary?

Vaccinations are required. They allow not only to protect young and adult bodies from infection, but also to prevent outbreaks of epidemics in children's groups. Vaccination allows you to acquire certain immunity to certain infectious diseases. When infected, a vaccinated person tolerates the disease much easier with favorable outcome. If vaccinations are not given, the disease can kill up to 2/3 of the population. If created herd immunity With the help of vaccination, the incidence will not reach such large proportions and will gradually subside.

Most of the diseases for which vaccination is carried out are quite dangerous for the body not only of a child, but also of an adult. The consequences of past infections cannot always be eliminated. A person may become disabled after illness. One should not think that a vaccine is a panacea for infectious diseases. Vaccination allows the disease to be transferred to mild form, eliminating the possibility of death.

It is impossible to say unequivocally whether a person should be vaccinated in a particular case. The decision whether or not to vaccinate is made taking into account several factors. Children's and adult bodies are individual. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to make adjustments to the vaccination plan in a particular case. The timing of vaccination is changed if a person falls ill during the vaccination period. If he is vaccinated later, it will not affect the health of the baby and the adult.

Parents must decide whether their child needs vaccination. It all depends on the health status of the baby. It is more difficult to resolve the issue of flu vaccinations for children and adults. It is not mandatory and is not included in the vaccination schedule. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a vaccine. Initially, you should study the forecast regarding the variety of viruses that will prevail this season. Incorrect selection of the drug reduces the effectiveness of vaccination by three times. Therefore, such vaccination will be ineffective.

A person with a weakened immune system may become ill after receiving a flu vaccine respiratory infections, and the risk of contracting the flu will be significantly lower. Influenza vaccination is not given to children under six months of age. It is recommended for older people, because at this age it is difficult for a person to fight viruses. At the time of making the decision to prescribe vaccination, there should be no exacerbations of chronic diseases. For babies up to one year old, split vaccines and subunit preparations are used. They are accepted by the body quite well, do not contain impurities and are not dangerous. Therefore, parents must decide on its necessity independently.

Why shouldn't you refuse vaccination?

The response to the administered vaccine depends on your health status, so before vaccination it is necessary to measure your temperature and consult a doctor. If a person is sick, the doctor draws up a medical report until he recovers. In this case, it is necessary to create a favorable environment for recovery, eliminating contact with sick people. The doctor controls the timing of vaccination, carries it out taking into account past diseases. If you plan to travel to other countries, the vaccination schedule is adjusted. In this case, you will probably need to be vaccinated according to the vaccination list of the country you are planning to travel to. If the baby travels with his parents, he is also entitled to the appropriate vaccination.

The vaccines that come to us are fully certified and have approval from the Ministry of Health. All of them have been tested and have the highest preventive effectiveness. For their production, either living or weakened microorganisms are used. Vaccines vary slightly between companies. Redness at the injection site, fever and weakness are standard reactions to vaccination in adults and children. The degree of reaction to the drug is individual for everyone. With proper preparation of the vaccination schedule, the risk of side effects is minimal.

If a person gets sick often, it is necessary not only to postpone vaccination until better times, but to visit an immunologist. It is necessary to take an immunogram test, which will show the condition of the body. Based on this analysis, the immunologist will develop a scheme for restoring weakened immunity. Next, taking into account the state of health, it is worth getting vaccinated.

When choosing a flu vaccine, determine which virus structure is most likely to occur this season. Only this approach will completely protect a person from infection with dangerous mutations of the virus. The composition of infections changes every year, so choose effective vaccine It’s quite difficult for a child. It is done no later than three weeks before the planned outbreak of influenza. It should be remembered that in weakened people, the vaccine provokes an exacerbation of existing chronic diseases.

What vaccinations are required?

Each country has its own list of vaccines that are mandatory. This is due to the specifics of each region and living conditions. The opinion that a baby under one year old should not be vaccinated is considered incorrect. The argument is the not yet strengthened the immune system. By the time the baby enters the team, it is necessary to receive a full range of vaccinations. They are in no hurry to take unvaccinated children into kindergarten and school.

If you do not follow the vaccine calendar, then by the time the child enters the team, the entire range of vaccinations must be completed in advance. a short time. The load on the immune system increases. During the period of adaptation in kindergarten and school, the child begins to get sick more often, since the weakened body is not able to overcome viral infections. It should be remembered that some vaccinations are administered three times to correct formation immunity to disease.

During the first few hours of life, the baby is vaccinated with hepatitis B, which is repeated at 6 months and 1 year. The child endures this vaccination the hardest. Therefore, according to medical indications It can be refused until the baby is 5 years old in cases where it was not done in the maternity hospital. During the same period, the baby is given BCG. A child is vaccinated against measles every year.

Next, you need to take DPT, which protects the baby from whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria. As a rule, it is carried out in conjunction with polio vaccination. It is repeated every other year. If you have not been vaccinated against polio, during the revaccination period kindergarten the baby should be excluded from children's group for 40 days to avoid the possibility of vaccine-associated infection with this disease. At one and a half years old, it is necessary to vaccinate the baby against mumps (mumps).

Adults are not vaccinated as often due to the fact that immunity to infections has already been formed in childhood. At age 24, you are vaccinated against measles and tetanus. Rubella vaccination is recommended for those who were not vaccinated in a timely manner in childhood, as well as for expectant mothers before a planned pregnancy. After 10 years, it is advisable to repeat it in order to develop lifelong resistance to infection.

Vaccination against chickenpox Recommended for people who did not have chickenpox in childhood and have children. A child can bring an infection from a children's group. It is done twice with an interval of 2 months. Adults are required to be vaccinated against hepatitis B every 10 years. Vaccination against pneumococcus is recommended for elderly people. Resistance to infection is developed for 5 years. Optional vaccinations include vaccination against the human papillomavirus. It is recommended for girls 13-14 years old and women up to 40 years old. This category includes vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, meningococcal infection And yellow fever. These vaccinations are mandatory before traveling to exotic countries.

When should you not get vaccinated?

Vaccination is not given to a sick person. It should be postponed until recovery. It is recommended to vaccinate it approximately 2 weeks after recovery, when the body’s strength is restored after the disease. Vaccinations are not given if:

• was for the vaccine allergic reaction;
• weakened immunity;
• encephalopathy developed while performing DPT vaccinations, in this case it is worthwhile to vaccinate without the pertussis component.

If there is a risk of an epidemic, vaccination is recommended. An infectious disease causes more harm to the body than a reaction to a vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended that vaccination be carried out according to the vaccination plan approved by the Ministry of Health.

The little doctor gives Jennifer Rush a "vaccination"

They say measles is not fatal dangerous disease, but she lethal.

They say chickenpox is a small thing, but this is wrong.

They say the flu is not dangerous, but it is dangerous.

They say whooping cough isn't that bad for babies, but it harmful .

They say vaccines are not effective at preventing disease, but vaccines keep 3 million children alive every year, and 2 million die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

measles virus

They say that " natural infection is better than vaccination, but they are wrong.

They say vaccines are not carefully tested, but vaccines are subject to a higher level of scrutiny than any other drug. For example, this study tested the safety and effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine in 37,868 children.

They will say that doctors don't recognize side effects from vaccines, but side effects well known, and, with the exception of very rare cases, they are quite soft.

They say the MMR vaccine causes autism. but that's not true. The question of whether vaccines cause autism has been studied many times, and all studies provide compelling evidence that it does not.

They say thimerosal in vaccines causes autism. No, it does not, since 2001 it has been absent from the vast majority of vaccines.

They say aluminum in vaccines (an adjuvant, or component of a vaccine designed to boost the body's immune response) is harmful to children. But babies ingest more aluminum through breast milk, and the amount of aluminum must be much higher to cause harm.

They say that the generally accepted vaccination schedule is not suitable for the child’s immune system, and it cannot cope with vaccinations. This is wrong .

They say that if other people's children are vaccinated, then there is no need to vaccinate your own children. And this is one of the most disgusting arguments. Firstly, vaccines do not always provide a 100% guarantee of not getting infected, so even a vaccinated child can sometimes still get sick if he encounters a pathogen. Worse yet, some people cannot be vaccinated because they have an immunodeficiency or are allergic to some component. These people are dependent on herd immunity.

People who choose not to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases place not only their own children at risk, but also the children of other parents.

They say that "natural" and "alternative" remedies are better than evidence-based medicine. This is wrong .

The truth is that vaccines are one of our greatest advances in the field. public health, and this is one of the most important things you can do to protect your child.

Most likely, anti-vaccine activists will say that I (Jennifer Ruff) work for large pharmaceutical corporations (I do not and never have). They will say that I am not a scientist (and I am a scientist), and that I am “Agent 666” (I don’t know who that is, but I certainly am not).

None of these statements are true, they are all knee-jerk responses from anti-vaccine activists because they have no facts to back up their position.

Why are they lying to you? Some of them do it for profit, hoping to sell their alternative remedies because you are afraid of evidence-based medicine. I'm sure many others within the anti-vaccine movement have truly good intentions and truly believe that vaccines are harmful. But as one astrophysicist recently said: “The good thing about science is that it is true whether you believe in it or not.”

For anti-vaxxers, this is bad news. Good intentions won't stop germs from infecting and harming people, and spreading the word that vaccines are dangerous actually leads to harmful consequences. Today we are seeing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases across the United States, all due to unvaccinated children.

There is only one thing I agree with anti-vaccine activists: educate yourself. Only what they mean by this is “read all these websites that support our position,” and I suggest taking an interest in what the scientific community has to say about this. Find out, how the immune system works. Read about the history of diseases before vaccines, and talk to older people who grew up when polio, measles and other diseases could not be prevented. Read more about how vaccines are developed and how they work.