IMMUNIZATION

Why it is important to share and act on information about IMMUNIZATION

Each year, over 1.4 million children die from diseases that are preventable with readily available vaccines.

 

These diseases include measles, meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), yellow fever, polio and hepatitis B. New vaccines against other illnesses, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, have been developed and are now more widely used. 

Children who are immunized are protected from these dangerous diseases, which can often lead to disability or death. All children have the right to this protection.

Every girl and boy needs to be fully immunized. Early protection is critical. The immunizations in the child’s first year and into the second year are especially important. It is also essential that pregnant women are immunized against tetanus to protect themselves as well as their newborns.

Although there has been progress in the past years in immunizing children, in 2008 nearly 24 million children — almost 20% of children born each year — did not get the routine immunizations scheduled for the first year of life.

Parents or other caregivers need to know why immunization is important, the recommended immunization schedule, and where their children can be immunized. 

Parents or other caregivers need to know that it is safe to immunize a child who has a minor illness or a disability or is suffering from malnutrition

What every family and community has a right to know about IMMUNIZATION

1.Immunization is urgent. Every child should complete the recommended series of immunizations. Early protection is critical; the immunizations in the first year and into the second year are especially important. All parents or other caregivers should follow the advice of a trained health worker on when to complete the required immunizations.

2.Immunization protects against several dangerous diseases. A child who is not immunized is more likely to become sick, permanently disabled or undernourished, and could possibly die.

3.It is safe to immunize a child who has a minor illness or a disability or is malnourished.

4.All pregnant women and their newborns need to be protected against tetanus. Even if a woman was immunized earlier, she needs to check with a trained health worker for advice on tetanus toxoid immunization.

5.A new syringe must be used for every person being immunized. People should demand a new syringe for every vaccination.

6. Disease can spread quickly when people are crowded together. All children living in congested conditions, particularly in refugee or disaster situations, should be immunized immediately, especially against measles.

7. The vaccination card of a child (or an adult) should be presented to the health worker before every immunization.

Immunization schedule for infants

Age at immunization                             Location                                      Immunization           

At birth                                                   All countries                                BCG1

                                                                Some countries                 Hepatitis B, polio

6–8 weeks                                              All countries                                    DTP2

                                                                                                            (also known as DPT), 

                                                                                                                              polio

                                                               Most countries                 Hepatitis B and Hib

                                                               Some countries           Pneumococcal (conjugate), 

                                                                                                                          rotavirus

10–12 weeks                                         All countries                                 DTP, polio

                                                               Most countries                      Hepatitis B and Hib

                                                          Some countries                  Pneumococcal (conjugate), 

                                                                                                                            rotavirus

14–24 weeks                                        All countries                                   DTP, polio

                                                             Most countries                      Hepatitis B and Hib

                                                         Some countries                Pneumococcal (conjugate), 

                                                                                                                          rotavirus3

9 months                                            Some countries                            Yellow fever

9–15 months                                     All countries                                       Measles

12–18 months                                  Some countries                              Mumps and rubella

15 months– 

6 years

                                                             All countries                                           Measles4

1  BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine offers partial protection against some forms of tuberculosis and 

leprosy.

2  DTP (DPT) protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough); many countries use 

DTPHepBHib, a five-in-one combination, vaccine also known as a pentavalent vaccine.

3  This is only for those receiving Rotateq™ vaccine, which has a three-dose schedule. A two-dose schedule is recommended for the Rotarix™ vaccine.

4  A minimum gap of one month should be given between the first and second doses of measles vaccine

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