Vaccinations Keep Your Child Safe

Diseases still persist today even if our healthcare system and hygiene standards have improved. While improved medical treatment and cleanliness standards decrease the development of diseases, they are insufficient to completely eradicate them. This is because the majority of infections spread through contact. The people who are most vulnerable to these diseases are our children.

When you are a new parent, the topic of childhood vaccinations or immunisations may seem overwhelming. The Child Development Centre (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all propose vaccination schedules that cover around 13 different diseases.

Dr Margaret Kannimmel explains that by eradicating or significantly reducing harmful diseases that used to travel from child to child, vaccinations not only keep your child safe from devastating illnesses like polio, tetanus, and diphtheria but also keep other children safe.

A vaccination is a disease-causing bacterium that has been killed, rendered weak, or otherwise altered. When children are exposed to a disease in vaccine form, their immune system, which is the body’s germ-fighting machine, is able to build up antibodies that protect them.

Here is why vaccination is important for children:

1. Your baby is very vulnerable to infections
2. Protection offered through breast milk (maternal immunity) is not enough
3. Immunity through natural infection is risky. Children’s bodies cannot always fight off these diseases.
4. Your child can still catch a dangerous infection even though your child seems healthy and strong.
5. Childhood Immunisation is the most effective way to protect children.

Immunity will wane over time, so remember to get the boosters.