Immunization Health Article

Immunization

Vaccine administered, usually to a baby or child, to prevent infection with a specific serious illness.

People are given immunizations to protect them from serious illnesses. The vaccines used in immunization are actually weakened doses of the organism that causes the disease. These organisms trigger the person's own immune system to produce antibodies against the disease. In this way, if the person ever comes into contact with the disease, his body will be prepared to fight it. Immunization schedules vary widely from country to country. In the Unites States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issues recommendations for immunization of babies and young children. Eight major childhood diseases are covered by this schedule: polio, measles, mumps, German measles (rubella), whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and meningitis and other haemophilus infections. Although in most developed countries these diseases are not very common, any one of them could cause disability or death. Immunizations should be taken seriously. Children traveling to other countries should be immunized according to the recommendations of public health officials familiar with the country the child will be visiting. All families should maintain records, signed by a doctor, regarding their schedule of immunizations. The Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was passed in 1986 to provide compensation to families for injury or death related to complications from immunizations.

DTP Vaccine

The DTP vaccine, immunizing against diphtheria (D), tetanus or lockjaw (T), and pertussis or whooping cough (P), is given in five injections, usually in the buttocks, upper thigh, or upper arm. The DTP vaccine is recommended for almost all young children. All 50 U.S. states require that children be immunized against diphtheria before entering school; nearly all require immunization against tetanus, and roughly 35 require immunization against pertussis. The first three doses are given at two, four, and six months of age. The next two are given at around 18 months and between four and six years of age, usually before the child enters school. If a child has ever experienced a seizure, the pediatrician may administer only the diphtheria and tetanus portions of the vaccine.

Side effects. Some infants experience mild side effects, such as a low-grade fever (less than 102°F or 38.9°C), irritability, listlessness, and redness and sensitivity in the area where the injection was given. These symptoms may be treated with acetaminophen, but should not be treated with aspirin. About one child in every 100-1,000 receiving the DTP vaccine may experience more serious side effects, such as constant crying for more than three hours, high fever (105°F or 40.6°C), or high-pitched, scream-like crying. Even more rare (about one for every 1,750 cases) are seizure (jerking, staring episode, usually associated with high fever) or collapse (limp, pale, and unresponsive). A pediatrician should be notified immediately if a baby or child exhibits any symptoms beyond the mild side effects after receiving the DTP vaccine. Although there has been some controversy about the DTP vaccine because of the side effects, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends this immunization for most children on the grounds that the benefits far outweigh the slight risk.

Related vaccines include DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus acellular, pertussis) vaccine, which is less likely to cause even the mild side effects of DTP and may be used for the 4th or 5th doses of DTP immunization; and DT (diphtheria tetanus) vaccine, which does not provide immunization against pertussis, and is not recommended for most healthy children.