Safe Vaccination

“A drop of life” is how vaccination can be safely defined. A vaccine is a biological product derived from the remains of a killed orgasm to immunize against a specific disease. Vaccination is a process of administration of vaccines. It is given by mouth, needle injection, or aerosol. Irrespective of the serving method, the purpose is to immunize babies or individuals recently recovered from a disease or under the threat of frequent disease. 

Caring for and curing a child is not rocket science. Mothers (including animals) understand the fundamentals of raising their children. It is in instinct. Humans alone are intelligent enough to make it art through advanced scientific research. Typically, children need immunizing against common viral diseases to eliminate or reduce the risk of a future re-occurrence of such ailments. The vaccination is a shield against viral maladies. Vaccines are developed after a lot of research and experimentation, ensuring safety, effectiveness, and sure results.

Vaccine Safety

The concept of safety alone is not related to vaccines. It is a much wider term to cover aspects of safety in every sphere of life. Several measures are required under the law in almost every country to ensure when talking about the safety of vaccination. It is important to understand that vaccines differ from medicines. Medicines cure, whereas vaccines are for pre-emptive care. These are given to healthy people to avoid serious diseases. Vaccines, therefore, need to remain at the highest safety standards. 

Safety Testing

Every allowed or approved vaccine goes through safety testing, including:

  • Under US laws (similar laws prevail everywhere), vaccines are subject to on a limited scale before issuance of a license by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • Vaccines pass through rigorous tests in labs for years before recommending for public use.
  • Lab Tests are among the basic criteria for deciding for the issuance of a license by the FDA.  
  • A clinical trial is a stage in which vaccines pass through tests on people who volunteer for such tests. 
  • Tests are initially conducted on a few volunteers, gradually increasing the number of volunteers. 
  • Vaccines are regularly monitored after licensing and recommendations by analyzing and assessing the results of usage among infants, children, and adults.

Vaccine testing sought to answer the following questions:

  • The safety of the vaccine
  • The amount that works best or the dosage quantity.
  • Response or reaction to the immune system.
  • Interval of dosages.

The controlling agencies, like the FDA, work closely with the vaccine producers. A careful analysis and assessment of answers to the above questions paves the way to ensure the safety of a vaccine. 

After Recommendations. 

The monitoring process does not conclude on a recommendation for public use. It is yet another stage of vaccine testing. Collection of data for analysis to examine its overall results, effectiveness, and side effects runs side by side with its public use. The developed world has the most advanced systems, infrastructure, legal framework, and resources for tracking vaccine safety. The rest of the countries, though follow the same systems, lack effective implementation because of scarcity of resources and poor administrative controls. 

However, ever-evolving medical science is hard to comprehend for the average layperson, such as a housewife. She, therefore, depends on the latest medical help available for the safety of her child. The keen and caring parents need to follow expert advice on following notes.

Avoid self-medication

Self-medication is never a suggestion from the health professional. The same is true with vaccination. It is a serious health issue, after all. If there is any issue before or post-vaccination, try not to address it yourself. Some parents try to treat post vaccination fever themselves through formula medicines. It is not advised without advice from a doctor.

Vaccinate a healthy baby

Beware that the baby is in full health at the time of administering the vaccination. Please consult your doctor first in case the baby has any health issues. It can increase the chances of a reaction or allergy. But it does not mean causing an inordinate delay in vaccine schedules. Again, the doctor is the right person to decide, not the parents themselves.

Reaction handling

Most vaccines are safe and carefully tested for effectiveness. Still, some vaccines can cause a reaction, redness, pain, side effect, and other adverse issues. Some reactions are common among all recipients, but not all. These can vary in different babies and individuals. In such cases, immediately stop vaccinating and consult your pediatrician/doctor to resume only after a thorough examination.

Adhere Schedule

The most important factor to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccine is strict adherence to a prescribed schedule. There is always a logic behind fixing vaccine schedules. It is not a random activity. Avoid proving yourself a “super-scientist” by adjusting schedules to your convenience. Abide by the rules set by the competent game planners.

Keep in Touch with Doctor

  • Take your doctor into confidence about the vaccination if it was administered at your doorstep by government-appointed field teams, like polio vaccination in many countries.
  • You should record each dose and inform your pediatrician/doctor for his better understanding of the situation.
  • The basic purpose of vaccination is to immunize your baby and to provide strength to fight against the disease.
  • Many pandemic outbursts have killed people in the past. Polio is one classic example that has successfully been controlled by vaccination.
  • After spending billions on research, highly safe and effective vaccines are available with no side effects.
  • Most governments are providing free or subsidized vaccination for particular health threats.

Ignorance is no excuse and a willful delay in addressing kids’ health issues absolutely should not be a choice for the concerned parents. It is a matter of “Now OR Never”. Blessings shower from nowhere but need the effort to make for them. Beware of your responsibility as concerned parents to remain attentive to the need for vaccination and to administer it vigilantly as per schedule. Now is your time to ponder whether to vaccinate your baby, as it is a blessing, not a hassle.

Image by Wilfried Pohnke from Pixabay 

Urza Omar
  • Urza Omar
  • The writer has a proven track as a mentor, motivational trainer, blogger, and social activist. She is the founder of mindclassic.com a blog intended for avid readers.