7 common questions about immunization 99% of parents wonder

Question 1: I am sick, but can I get vaccinated when I go to the vaccination appointment?

Many children get sick every time they get close to the scheduled date of vaccination, so the vaccination is delayed from time to time, causing the child to be vaccinated much later than other children of the same age. However, in most cases, children do not need to delay vaccination. Let's see what situations need to be postponed and when your baby can still get vaccinated.

Children are not vaccinated in the following cases:

• Children with a history of shock or severe reaction after the previous vaccination (with the same ingredients), high fever above 39°C with convulsions or signs of brain/meninges, cyanosis, difficulty breathing.
• Immunocompromised children: vaccination with live attenuated vaccines is contraindicated.

Children need to postpone immunizations when:

• Children with impaired organ function (respiratory failure, circulatory failure, heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, coma). Vaccinate again when the child's health is stable.
• Children with acute diseases, infectious diseases. Vaccinate again when health is stable.
• Fever ≥ 37.5°C or hypothermia ≤ 35.5°C (underarm temperature measurement).
• Children who have received immunoglobulin products within 3 months (except for hepatitis B antisera) will have to postpone vaccination with live attenuated vaccines.
• Children who are or have just finished high-dose corticosteroid therapy ( 2mg/kg/day), chemotherapy, or radiation therapy within 14 days

Children can still be vaccinated in the following cases:

• The child is having a mild illness such as cough, cold, diarrhea, etc., without a fever
• Children are suffering from mild colds, coughs, diarrhea, but it has decreased, only a little
• Children are taking antibiotics
• Children with allergic diseases such as eczema, hives, asthma, allergic rhinitis

Question 2: Is it possible to get vaccinated later than the scheduled date?

The vaccination appointment date is when the shot or booster can be given for that vaccine, it does not have to be on that date. If the child has not been vaccinated, it can be delayed for a few weeks, but it should not be delayed too long because the earlier the vaccine is vaccinated, the better protection the baby will be.

With premature babies, parents are often afraid that the baby is too young to be vaccinated. The baby is still vaccinated at the right age, like full-term babies. If the baby's condition is stable, there are no problems such as respiratory and circulatory failure. Schedule your vaccinations for the best protection

Question 3: If the injections are much later than the scheduled date, do I need to start over?

As mentioned above, the appointment schedule is only the minimum time interval between two doses of the vaccine, not the maximum time. Even if the child is vaccinated much later than the scheduled appointment, the child still only needs to be vaccinated. For the remaining doses, there is no need to start over. If vaccination is much later than scheduled, immunity may not be optimal, but a booster shot is better than skipping the booster shot.

Example: Hepatitis A vaccine is usually scheduled for a second booster 6 months after the first dose. However, the immune effect is still optimal if the booster is given later but within 6-18 months after the first dose. If the injection is delayed after 18 months from the first injection, the protection will be lower.

Question 4: Is it possible to have the baby vaccinated earlier than the scheduled appointment?

In some cases, it is possible to inject earlier, as long as the earliest possible time to inject and the minimum interval between 2 injections of the same type is ensured.

For example, with the 6in1 vaccine (hexaxim, infanrix), the first shot can be given at 6 weeks without waiting until 2 months. The 6-in-1 booster is usually scheduled at least 1 month after the first injection, but the minimum interval between these 2 injections is only 4 weeks.

The minimum interval between 2 injections only applies to 2 injections of the same vaccine or between live attenuated vaccines (eg Measles-mumps-rubella, Chickenpox).

Question 5: Can my baby get more than one vaccine at the same time?

The child's immune system can receive up to 10,000 antigens at a time, so any vaccine can be given at the same time without ensuring the dosing interval.

Injecting multiple injections simultaneously does not increase the rate of side effects, the rate of accidents compared to injecting each injection individually. Getting multiple shots simultaneously will help reduce the number of vaccinations significantly, so your baby is also less afraid of vaccinations, saving time and reducing the risk of cross-infection when taking shots. For children who are late for many injections, giving them multiple shots at the same time will help them quickly catch up with the missed shots

Injecting many injections simultaneously can make the baby more painful. Parents can apply a cool compress at the injection site to make the baby more comfortable.

Question 6: Is it enough for children to get vaccinated only under the expanded vaccination program?

Expanded Immunization is a national health program that prioritizes vaccines to reduce dangerous infectious diseases in children. It is essential to fully immunize children with these vaccines, but these vaccines do not cover all severe diseases in children due to limited program funding. Therefore, in addition to the vaccines included in the expanded immunization program, children should be vaccinated with other service vaccines such as pneumococcal, meningococcal, varicella...

Question 7: After vaccination, how should the baby be monitored at home, and when should the baby be examined again?

Reactions after vaccination are mostly mild manifestations such as itching, pain, swelling, redness at the injection site; systemic symptoms such as fever below 39 degrees Celsius and some other symptoms such as slight irritability, fatigue, decreased appetite. These symptoms usually go away on their own in 2 days.

Monitor for severe signs within 2 days, need to take the child REVIEW IMMEDIATELY if the child has the following symptoms:

• Children convulsions, crying, persistent crying, lethargy, poor feeding, refusing to breastfeed
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, cyanosis, hives all over the body, cold limbs, purple veins
• Continuously high fever above 39 degrees Celsius, using antipyretic does not help
• Fever for more than 3 days
• The injection site is swollen, stiff, painful, and limited in movement, with a red halo > 2cm in size.