Contents:
- Medical Video: How Risky Are Vaccines?
- 1. Is each child required to be immunized?
- 2. Will the immune system be weakened if given a vaccine?
- 3. Can vaccines cause diseases that the vaccine should prevent?
- 4. What about the side effects of immunization?
- 5. Does the vaccine cause fever?
- 6. What immunizations must be given?
- 7. Are only children who need a vaccine?
- 8. Can my child be immunized if he is sick?
Medical Video: How Risky Are Vaccines?
The first time the vaccine was introduced, vaccines or immunizations have brought changes in the world of health by helping to stop the spread of various diseases. Until now, vaccines continue to be recommended for every child. However, lately vaccines continue to be debated by the public because many issues are not properly circulated. Here are eight facts about vaccines that parents often worry about.
1. Is each child required to be immunized?
Yes, all children must receive immunization. Immunization can protect every child from dangerous diseases while helping to reduce the spread of the disease. Therefore, giving vaccines to your child indirectly means you are protecting other children who don't get the vaccine. Whether it's due to cost or medical reasons.
In addition, the cost of immunization is much cheaper than the cost of treating the disease.
2. Will the immune system be weakened if given a vaccine?
No, your immune system will not weaken. Your immune system actually increases because the body will make antibodies against germs and viruses that cause disease. That way, when there is a virus that causes infectious diseases that approaches you, your body is immune enough to win the infection.
You also don't need to worry because vaccinating one type of disease will not weaken your immune system's response to other diseases.
3. Can vaccines cause diseases that the vaccine should prevent?
This is one of the concerns about the vaccine. The reason is how the immunization works by mimicking the occurrence of viral infections in the body. However, the vaccine contains a dead virus so that it cannot cause the disease to appear in your body.
Only vaccines contain live attenuated viruses such as the varicella-zoster (chickenpox) vaccine and the measles-mump-rubella vaccine (MMR) which can cause disease with mild symptoms.
However, that does not mean the vaccine is a danger. Mild symptoms can still be controlled quickly. While the symptoms of serious illness due to viral infection are usually very difficult to control. So, it is still better to provide immunizations for children even though there are risks to their health.
4. What about the side effects of immunization?
The most frequently questioned facts about vaccines are how safe immunization is. Although immunization can cause side effects, the risk of complications due to diseases that can be prevented by immunization is far greater.
For example, one in 20 children dies from diphtheria infection. While only 1 in 14,000 children experience serious side effects of immunization after being given diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DtaP) vaccine through immunization.
5. Does the vaccine cause fever?
Yes, vaccines can cause fever. Because, fever is one of the side effects of immunization. Giving immunizations also has the risk of other mild side effects. Starting from redness, pain in the injection site, joint pain, fever, andsymptoms like wanting to get the flu.
In addition, there are also serious side effects such as severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic). However, the serious side effects of vaccines are very rare.
6. What immunizations must be given?
There are several basic and mandatory immunizations that must be given to all children or infants in Indonesia. In fact, as stipulated in the Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Health Regulation (Permenkes), parents who do not give immunizations to their sons and daughters can be prosecuted legally in court. This is because vaccines are considered as one of the rights of children that cannot be violated.
Here is a list of vaccines that must be accepted by everyone, especially infants and children who are more vulnerable to viral infections.
- Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Tuberculosis
- Measles
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Tetanus
- Pneumonia and meningitis
7. Are only children who need a vaccine?
Not only children who need to receive immunizations with vaccines. There are also additional immunizations that need to be given to adults and adolescents. Among others are:
- Influenza
- HPV (a virus that can cause cervical cancer)
- Meningococcal (cause of meningitis)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
- Hepatitis A and B
- Pneumococcus (cause of pneumonia)
8. Can my child be immunized if he is sick?
Giving immunization remains safe and recommended even though when you are going to be immunized your child is suffering from a mild illness such as cough, runny nose, ear infection, or low-grade fever. However, you should first consult with your doctor about the child's condition before getting immunized.
You should also go directly to the health center or pediatrician to find out more about various facts about vaccines so you don't hesitate.
