As a parent, my primary concern is the health and safety of my kids. With the ongoing pandemic, we have all been staying indoors and avoiding going out as much as possible. A visit to the doctor is normally put off unless really necessary because of the fear of exposure.
One of the things that have been pushed back by many parents is the immunization vaccines for their little ones. I know I pushed it back. I kept telling myself that it's OK. I would rather keep them safe and after all, they aren't really meeting anyone outside the immediate family.
But I was wrong!
Young children are at a higher risk of contracting a serious disease that could cause hospitalization or death. Delaying or spreading out vaccine doses leaves your child unprotected during the time when they need vaccine protection the most.
Making sure that your child is being vaccinated as per the recommendations for immunization laid down by the Indian Paediatric Association means you can help protect him at a young age.
But How Can They Be In Danger If They Are Not Stepping Out?
Currently, due to COVID-19 and social distancing, it is assumed that preschoolers and adolescent kids are safe at home with minimal socializing and therefore no urgency for booster vaccinations. But the fact of the matter is that they are already reservoirs of these infectious agents and can pass it to their younger siblings and older grandparents. Diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis are highly contagious and require regular immunity-boosting to maintain herd immunity in these social groups.
This needs to be followed up with booster shots especially between the age of 4-6 years. Booster doses are a reminder for your child's immune system to keep them safe and protected from a range of diseases. It is important to complete the circle of protection and build their immunity and health.
Why Do Healthy Kids Need to Be Immunized?
We are asked to vaccinate in order to stay healthy and that's the same case with kids. This is because vaccines work by protecting the body before disease strikes. If you think you should wait till your child actually gets sick before vaccinated them, it might be too late for the vaccine to work. The best time to immunize kids is when they're healthy.
As parents, do not delay taking your child for their vaccinations. Their health and immunity are extremely fragile at this stage. Use this time to build it. It's time to listen to the child’s immunity alarm and that's why #DontWaitVaccinate. Click here to get your facts about your child's immunization and vaccination schedule.
This post is in association with Sanofi Pasteur
KSP Team
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Janani S Koushik
Rushita Sheth
Dr Vihan Sanyal
