Immunization is a kind of preventive medicine that aims at protecting babies from falling prey to infectious diseases. Immunizations normally start at the time of baby’s birth and may continue till the age of 18 years. It is important that parent’s follow the immunization schedule provided to them by their medical expert so they can save their children from falling ill.

If you happen to miss an immunization date you can consult your doctor to give you another one. Normally an immunization can lead to some side-effects like mild fever, soreness, swelling or redness near the injected area. However, these will disappear after sometime. If the side effects persist you must take medical help.

Fatal complications due to immunization arise in very rare cases. You can prevent these by re-scheduling the immunization date if your baby is ill on that day. You must consult the doctor before giving your baby a booster dose of an immunization if your baby had developed an acute reaction to its previous dose.

Immunization and Medical Help

If your baby develops any or some of these symptoms after an immunization, medical help must be sought. These symptoms include,

• continuous vomiting
• loss of appetite i.e. baby has not been feeding normally for the past 24 hours
• breathing becomes unusually noisy and rapid
• baby is passing less than normal urine
• stool or urine contains blood
• baby cries continuously and in an unusual manner
• is lethargic and shows less than normal alertness
• develops a skin rash

Immunization Schedule

Given below is an immunization schedule recommended by the Indian Academy of Paediatricians.

Apart from these immunizations, medical help must be taken regarding the timing and any other vaccines that your baby requires.