Year one vaccines
We have all taken them, but few understand what and why are they for. Here is the latest list of vaccines recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics
The importance of vaccines has never been so critical as today. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught everyone from a small kid to an old adult what a vaccine can do – save a life. We have all been administered a vaccine in some form or the other from the time we were born. All our parents did was to take us to the inoculation centre. Of course, they had a file with a list of vaccines and the schedule. Today, I give you the list of the recommended vaccines by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) for year one and the reason why we administer them to our kids.
Birth
BCG: BCG is short for Bacille Calmette-Guérin. It is given to infants in countries where tuberculosis is highly prevalent. India, having a large number of TB cases, is one of those countries. This should be given before discharge from the maternity care centre as per the IAP.
OPV: This is the first dose of polio and is given orally. Hence, the acronym OPV, which stands for oral polio vaccine. This should be given as soon as possible after birth. Though polio has been eradicated from India, this vaccine is a must for all kids.
Hepatitis B-1 (BD): This vaccine is given to prevent Hepatitis B, a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. The IAP recommends this be administered within 24 hours of birth.
6 weeks (Month 2)
DTwP/DTaP-1: Both these vaccines provide protection from tetanus, diphtheria and severe pertussis (whooping cough). According to the IAP, these may be administered in primary immunization, that is, the routine immunisations that must be carried out in the first few months of birth.
IPV-1: The IAP recommended schedule for inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is 6-10-14 weeks. IPV is given to protect infants from polio. This is an injection and not an oral dose though.
Hib-1: Dose 1 of the haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB) vaccine is given to infants less than five years old to prevent illness caused by a bacterium called H. influenzae. HiB can cause severe infections of both the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and the bloodstream.
Rotavirus-1: This vaccine is given to protect infants from rotavirus infection, which is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea.
PCV-1: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) gives children protection from 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease.
Hep B-2: Dose 2
10 weeks (Month 3)
DTwP/DTaP-2: Dose 2
IPV-2: Dose 2
Hib-2: Dose 2
Hep B-3: Dose 3
Rotavirus-2: Dose 2
PCV-2: Dose 2
14 weeks (Month 4)
DTwP/DTaP-3: Dose 3
IPV-3: Dose 3
Hib-3: Dose 3
Hep B-4: Dose 4
Rotavirus-3: Dose 3
PCV-3: Dose 3
Month 6
Influenza (IIV)-1: Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) are given to children to protect against three different seasonal influenza viruses. The IAP recommends a uniform dose of 0.5 ml of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved brands.
Month 7
Influenza (IIV)-2: Dose 2. The IAP recommends this to be repeated every year, in the pre-monsoon period, till 5 years of age.
Month 9
MMR-1: The MMR vaccine is used to protect children from measles, mumps and rubella.
Month 12
Hepatitis A: As the name goes, this vaccine is given to protect children from the Hepatitis A disease. The IAP recommends a single dose for a live attenuated vaccine. It can be given as early as 6 months of age if a baby will travel to a place where hepatitis A is common.
Note: Always consult your paediatrician before going ahead with the vaccinations.
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