A specially developed method of acquiring the body's resistance to infectious diseases is called vaccination, or inoculation. It consists of administering vaccines to children from the moment of birth against a number of diseases according to the calendar of compulsory vaccinations for infants, children after one year and up to adulthood. Thanks to this system, the human body begins to produce antibodies from early childhood, fighting infections.
The first vaccination is given to the baby while still in the maternity hospital. Or rather, there are two of them. This article discusses what vaccinations are given to babies, the schedule for administering vaccines, the prerequisites for changing the schedule, is it necessary to vaccinate a newborn?
Should infants be vaccinated?
The list of vaccinations for children of various ages is approved in the text of the Federal Law “On Immunoprophylaxis of Infectious Diseases”. Legal relations in the field of vaccination are addressed in a number of other legislative acts that prohibit adults responsible for a newborn from refusing vaccination from the first days of the baby’s life, but do not provide for punishment.
Doubt about whether to vaccinate a baby is especially important for many parents. The laws do not contain any mention of liability for refusal to vaccinate.
That's why:
- the presence of a refusal cannot affect the length of stay in the maternity hospital;
- doctors do not have the right to demand from you an explanation for their decision;
- Their demand to provide additional reasons, certificates, and documents is illegal.
If, answering the question: “When is a baby vaccinated?” If you decide to start this process later, say a month after birth, then before coming to the maternity hospital, draw up a statement of refusal of biotests and vaccines in two copies, inform the head physician about this, put stamps and signatures on them. Take your copy with you when you enter the maternity ward and notify the medical staff about your refusal.
They do the same when registering at a clinic if they want to continue to do without vaccines. After completing the document, parents themselves determine when and what vaccinations are given to infants, and are responsible for the health of the newborn. If a child is not vaccinated, you need to be prepared that he will be denied the right to attend a preschool or school. This is especially true during periods of epidemics and the announcement of quarantines.
What vaccinations are given to children from 0 to 1 year old?
The maximum number of vaccinations occurs in the first year of life. Each scheduled visit is accompanied by an offer of the next vaccine against infection. How are infants vaccinated? According to a specially approved scheme, schedule, according to which the next dose is administered to stimulate the production of antibodies in the body. Over the course of 12 months, a child is vaccinated against seven diseases. Russian legislation has approved a list including:
- Hepatitis B;
- tuberculosis;
- diphtheria;
- whooping cough;
- tetanus;
- polio;
- measles;
- rubella;
- mumps;
- hemophilic infection.
The calendar does not include vaccinations against influenza, encephalitis, hepatitis A, and chickenpox. They can be done on your own initiative.
What diseases are vaccinated against?
As children grow up and have more contact with the outside world, the risk of infection increases significantly.
At the age of three months, the baby will have to undergo a complex and responsible preventive measure: vaccination against several types of infectious diseases.
- Whooping cough is characterized by damage to the respiratory tract, intractable coughing attacks and spasms. It occurs in an acute form and is fraught with numerous complications.
- Diphtheria affects the upper respiratory tract and is highly toxic. Negatively affects the cardiovascular and nervous systems, kidneys. Diphtheria toxins pose a major threat to life.
- Tetanus is transmitted when the tetanus bacillus gets from the ground onto damaged skin. Characteristic symptoms are convulsions, suffocation, and central nervous system damage. Infection is fatal.
- Poliomyelitis, which causes viral damage to the spinal cord. The resulting pathologies lead to irreversible paralysis of varying severity, the patient becomes deeply disabled.
- Hepatitis B affects the liver, has a long course and is transmitted through contact with blood. The advanced stage of the disease leads to cirrhosis of the liver. In the absence of contraindications, the first stage of vaccination is carried out in the maternity hospital.
- Haemophilus influenzae (HIB) is a group of viruses caused by Pfeiffer's bacillus. Inflammations are localized in the respiratory regions and central nervous system and are characteristic of childhood. With severe damage, purulent foci and sepsis of internal organs may occur.
Haemophilus influenzae infection was recently included in the list of vaccinations and is not considered mandatory. Your pediatrician may recommend vaccinations to boost your body's immune defenses.
Calendar of mandatory vaccinations for infants up to one year old
According to the National Preventive Vaccination Calendar, already 12 hours after birth, the baby is vaccinated against hepatitis B. Subsequently, the hepatitis B vaccine is administered 2 more times - at the age of 1 and 2 months (immunity lasts until approximately 12 years). Already on the 3-7th day of life, children are vaccinated against tuberculosis with the BCG-M vaccine (re-vaccination against this disease is done at 7 years of age). At the age of 3 months, they begin to receive (the first vaccination) the DPT vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and many other serious diseases. At 4-5 months a second vaccination is given, and at 6 months a third DTP vaccination is given. At 12 months they are vaccinated against rubella, measles and mumps.
The vaccination list in Russia is recognized as one of the most effective and comprehensive. To determine the order of procedures and optimally place them in time, the data is summarized in a table.
| № | Age | Prescribing first vaccinations for infants |
| 1 | First day of life | Hepatitis In viral etiology |
| 2 | 3-7 days | Tuberculosis |
| 3 | 1 month | Second vaccination against hepatitis B |
| 4 | 2 months | 1. Second revaccination against hepatitis B, if the child is at risk |
| 5 | 3 months |
|
| 6 | 4 to 5 months | Revaccinations from:
|
| 7 | 6 months | Repeated revaccination from:
|
| 8 | 12 months | Measles, rubella, mumps; Third vaccination against hepatitis B, if there is a risk of getting sick. |
It is not necessary to adhere to time limits. For example, vaccinations for infants at 2 months, noted in the schedule, can be carried out a month later with adjustments to the dates of subsequent procedures. It all depends on the condition of the child’s body.
Calendar of preventive vaccinations for epidemic indications
With changes and additions from June 16, 2021, April 13, 2017, February 19, 2021, December 9, 2021, February 3, 2021.
| Categories of citizens subject to mandatory vaccination | Name of preventive vaccination |
Persons living in territories enzootic for tularemia, as well as persons arriving in these territories performing the following work:
Persons working with live cultures of the causative agent of tularemia. | Against tularemia |
| Persons living in areas enzootic for plague. Persons working with live cultures of the plague pathogen. | Against the plague |
In foci of goat-sheep type brucellosis, persons performing the following work:
Livestock breeders, veterinarians, livestock specialists in farms enzootic for brucellosis. Persons working with live cultures of the causative agent of brucellosis. | Against brucellosis |
Persons performing the following work:
Persons working with material suspected of being infected with anthrax. | Against anthrax |
For preventive purposes, people at high risk of contracting rabies are vaccinated:
| Against rabies |
Persons performing the following work:
Persons working with live cultures of the causative agent of leptospirosis. | Against leptospirosis |
Persons living in areas where tick-borne viral encephalitis is endemic; persons traveling to areas endemic for tick-borne viral encephalitis, as well as persons arriving in these territories performing the following work:
Persons working with live cultures of tick-borne encephalitis. | Against tick-borne viral encephalitis |
| Persons performing work on the procurement, storage, processing of raw materials and livestock products obtained from farms where Q fever diseases are registered. Persons performing work on the procurement, storage and processing of agricultural products in enzootic areas with Q fever. Persons working with live cultures of Q fever pathogens. | Against Q fever |
| Persons traveling outside the Russian Federation to countries (regions) enzootic for yellow fever. Persons working with live cultures of the yellow fever pathogen. | Against yellow fever |
| Persons traveling to cholera-prone countries (regions). The population of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the event of complications of the sanitary and epidemiological situation regarding cholera in neighboring countries, as well as on the territory of the Russian Federation. | Against cholera |
| Persons engaged in the field of municipal improvement (workers servicing sewer networks, structures and equipment, as well as organizations carrying out sanitary cleaning of populated areas, collection, transportation and disposal of household waste). Persons working with live cultures of typhoid pathogens. Population living in areas with chronic water epidemics of typhoid fever. Persons traveling to hyperendemic countries (regions) for typhoid fever. Contact persons in areas of typhoid fever for epidemic indications. According to epidemic indications, vaccinations are carried out when there is a threat of an epidemic or outbreak (natural disasters, major accidents in the water supply and sewerage networks), as well as during an epidemic, while mass vaccination of the population is carried out in the threatened region. | Against typhoid fever |
| Persons living in regions disadvantaged by the incidence of hepatitis A, as well as persons at occupational risk of infection (medical workers, public service workers employed in food industry enterprises, as well as those servicing water supply and sewerage facilities, equipment and networks). Persons traveling to disadvantaged countries (regions) where outbreaks of hepatitis A are registered. Contact persons in hepatitis A outbreaks. | Against viral hepatitis A |
| Employees of medical organizations (their structural divisions) with an infectious disease profile. Persons engaged in the field of public catering and municipal improvement. Children attending preschool educational organizations and going to organizations providing treatment, rehabilitation and (or) recreation (as indicated). According to epidemic indications, vaccinations are carried out when there is a threat of an epidemic or outbreak (natural disasters, major accidents in the water supply and sewerage networks), as well as during an epidemic, while mass vaccination of the population is carried out in the threatened region. Preventive vaccinations are preferably carried out before the seasonal increase in the incidence of shigellosis. | Against shigellosis |
| Children and adults in areas of meningococcal infection caused by meningococci of serogroups A or C. Vaccination is carried out in endemic regions, as well as in the event of an epidemic caused by meningococci of serogroups A or C. Persons subject to conscription for military service. | Against meningococcal infection |
| Contact persons without age restrictions from the outbreaks of the disease, who have not previously been ill, have not been vaccinated and do not have information about preventive vaccinations against measles or have been vaccinated once. | Against measles |
| Contact persons from the outbreaks of the disease who have not been sick, have not been vaccinated and do not have information about preventive vaccinations against viral hepatitis B. | Against viral hepatitis B |
| Contact persons from the outbreaks of the disease who have not been sick, have not been vaccinated and do not have information about preventive vaccinations against diphtheria. | Against diphtheria |
| Contact persons from the foci of the disease who have not been sick, have not been vaccinated and do not have information about preventive vaccinations against mumps. | Against mumps |
Contact persons in foci of polio, including those caused by wild poliovirus (or if the disease is suspected):
| Against polio |
| Children aged 2 to 5 years, adults belonging to risk groups (persons subject to conscription for military service, people over 60 years old, suffering from chronic lung diseases, people over working age, living in social service organizations). | Against pneumococcal infection |
| Children for active vaccination to prevent diseases caused by rotaviruses. | Against rotavirus infection |
| Children and adults from risk groups, including those subject to conscription for military service, who have not previously been vaccinated and have not had chickenpox. | Against chicken pox |
| Children who were not vaccinated against hemophilus influenzae in the first year of life. | Against hemophilus influenzae |
Level 1 priority includes:
Level 2 priority includes:
Level 3 priority includes:
| Against coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus |
How children are vaccinated
Guided by the calendar, the local pediatrician checks the baby’s condition before each procedure. The decision to carry out the next procedure is made based on the results of the examination. The baby's reaction to previously administered vaccinations is also analyzed. If detected:
- vaccine side effects and complications;
- inflammation at the injection site;
- fever in infants after vaccination;
- any uncharacteristic consequences of performing procedures,
The vaccination schedule is being reviewed, shifted, and monitoring continues. Diagnosis of allergic reactions requires the additional involvement of an immunologist in observation. The reason for the transfer may be a complication of the epidemiological situation.
Although, in the context of the 2021 coronavirus pandemic, WHO and US CDC specialists answer in the affirmative when asked whether infants are vaccinated during quarantine. Ideally, only a normal reaction of the child can become the basis for scheduling vaccinations. Consultation with a specialist is necessary.
How do children cope with vaccination?
You need to understand what infants are vaccinated against. Vaccination is intended to help control the spread of disease across the country, not to protect the individual newborn. It is clear that the human body reacts to the vaccine individually, which complicates the task. Today, complications after vaccinations are much less common, but they do happen. After vaccination, children may experience:
- swelling, redness, suppuration at the injection site;
- heat;
- allergic reactions of varying severity.
To prepare for the unexpected, we recommend:
- Avoid vaccination if you have dermatitis, runny nose, or fever;
- postpone the procedure if the child has been in contact with sick people;
- two to three days before the procedure, give the baby antihistamines if he has confirmed allergies;
- keep antipyretic and antiallergic medications at home.
Vaccination against pneumococcal infection
Pneumococcus is a complex infectious disease that can be a complication after pneumonia, inflammation of otitis media, or manifests itself against the background of other respiratory infections. The virus infects the tissues of the spinal cord and brain, causing purulent meningitis. Children under 5 years of age are most susceptible to this disease.
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines for children and adults:
- Polysaccharide - from 23 types of pneumococcus (Pneumo-23) - is done only for medical reasons, requires one dose to form immunity.
- Conjugated pneumococcal, protects against 10 (Synflorix) or 13 (Prevenar-13) types of bacteria - several doses are required, antibodies are produced up to 15 years.
The polysaccharide vaccine is not administered to children under 2 years of age due to a weakened body that is not able to quickly reproduce the required amount of antibodies in the blood.
Therefore, the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine is successfully used, which is available to children over 2 months of age and is included in the national vaccination schedule.
The first vaccine against infection was developed only in the second half of the twentieth century due to the huge number of types of pneumococcal infection (more than 90 types).
The conjugate vaccine contains: polysaccharides (parts of the cell wall of type 13 pneumococcus), aluminum phosphate, polysorbate 80, sodium chloride and succinic acid.
For synflorix, in addition to the above, carrier proteins are added (diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and Haemophilus influenzae protein), which provide a small amount of antibodies to form short-term immunity and cannot completely replace DPT.
The polysaccharide vaccine contains only 3 components, which after the first dose form long-lasting, stable immunity: phenol, sodium chloride and parts of the cell wall of 23 types of pneumococcus.
Drugs
Synflorix, made in Belgium. Synflorix is a polysaccharide vaccine that contains carrier proteins for 10 types of pneumococcal infections, and also includes short-term tetanus and diphtheria toxoids.
To obtain stable immunity, 3 doses of the drug and subsequent revaccination consisting of 2 doses are required. Injected intramuscularly into the thigh or shoulder for children aged 2 months to 5 years. A common side effect is redness at the injection site.
Prevenar 7 or 13, made in the USA. Polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, which is given at 2 months and has no age limit. The numbers 7 and 13 indicate the number of virus strains against which lasting protection will be developed.
Individual immunity appears after 3 doses with an interval of at least 4 weeks between injections. A common side effect is hyperthermia, irritability, and hardening at the injection site.
What does it protect against?
In the case of a full range of vaccinations, stable immunity against pneumococcal infection is formed. Thus, a child at 2 months does not have a 100% risk of complications from any acute or pulmonary disease, even after the first vaccination.
Operating principle
The vaccine helps build immunity against a wide range of types of infection by injecting parts of the bacteria's cell wall without putting the baby's life at risk.
Where do they put it?
The drug is administered intramuscularly to a two-month-old baby in the thigh.
How is it transferred
In infancy, babies tolerate all doses of drugs quite easily.
Side effects and statistics
Infants at 2 months of age rarely experience a severe side effect from vaccination against pneumococcal infection; the only thing that can confuse a parent is an increase in body temperature and redness at the site of vaccination. These symptoms will go away on their own after a few days.
Should you vaccinate your baby?
Despite the obvious benefits of vaccination, the company’s activity against these procedures does not subside. It is up to the parents to decide whether to vaccinate their baby. However, when making a decision, remember that before the establishment of the immunization system in the Russian Federation, up to 40% of children died from diseases. Now the level of this indicator does not reach 1%.
The problem should be considered from different angles. On the scales there is a danger of complications from the effects of the vaccine, and a high risk of remaining unarmed in the face of deadly infections. Do infants need vaccinations? On the one hand, the activation of a child’s immunity by vaccines will make it easy to tolerate, or not to react at all, to infection in the future. On the other hand, an unvaccinated newborn is defenseless, and any contact can cause serious complications with irreparable consequences.
Vaccination against viral hepatitis A (Botkin's disease)
Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food and water (poor water supply, food contamination, poor sanitation), and is common in regions with hot climates (Turkey, Egypt, Asian countries, and other “warm” places). Therefore, when traveling, it is important to be especially careful and carefully observe the rules of hygiene.
Vaccination against hepatitis A is noted by WHO as mandatory for visiting a number of countries. Periodically, outbreaks of the disease occur in Russia.
It is important to remember that there are “anicteric” forms of the disease, which complicates timely diagnosis and treatment and leads to complications.
The Havrix inactivated vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium) will help prevent infection.
