What vaccinations should a 14-year-old teenager get?

up to 14 years old

Timely vaccination in accordance with the national childhood vaccination schedule is the only factor protecting the health and life of the child himself, as well as the formation of population immunity. Unreasonable refusal of immunization leads to the activation of pathogens that humanity got rid of decades ago.

According to statistics, children who are not vaccinated in accordance with the vaccination schedule are more likely to suffer from dangerous infectious pathologies, suffer more severely from them, and they are more likely to develop complications. Despite the negativity being spread, medicine does not know of a single case in which a healthy patient became ill due to the administration of the vaccine in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Vaccination schedule for children in Russia

*(1) The first, second and third vaccinations are carried out according to the following scheme - 0-1-6:

1 dose is administered at the beginning of vaccination, 2 dose - exactly one month after the first vaccination, 3 dose - exactly 6 months after the first dose of the vaccine. The exception is children who are at risk

The hepatitis B vaccine is administered according to the 0-1-2-12 schedule: the first dose is administered when vaccination begins, the second dose is administered 30 days after the first vaccination, and the third dose is given one year after the start of vaccination.

*(2) Vaccination is used as part of the prevention of tuberculosis; the gentle primary vaccine BCG-M is used. It is used on the territory of constituent entities of the Russian Federation with incidence rates that exceed 80 per 100 thousand population. The vaccine is also used when there is an increased risk of developing the disease in people surrounded by people infected with tuberculosis.

*(3) Vaccination is prescribed to children who are at risk: born to mothers who are carriers of HbsAg, infected with hepatitis B in the third trimester, and drug users.

*(4) The first and second vaccinations are carried out with the vaccine for the purpose of preventing polio (inactivated).

*(5) Vaccination is carried out for children at risk. It includes those who have pathologies of the central nervous system, anatomical defects that cause hemophilus influenzae infection. Also at risk are children with cancer and/or long-term use of immunosuppressive therapy, HIV infection, underweight, and those born from a mother with HIV.

*(6) The third vaccination and subsequent revaccinations are carried out using live vaccine. Vaccinate children who are at risk and have the following characteristics or disorders: diseases of the nervous system, immunodeficiency conditions, cancer, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, the presence of HIV in the child or mother, stay in an orphanage

*(6.1) Vaccination and revaccination for children at risk can be carried out using immunobiological agents containing combined vaccine preparations.

*(7) The second revaccination is carried out using toxoids, which have a reduced number of antigens.

*(8) Revaccination is carried out with a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis (BCG).

The national vaccination calendar provides for the vaccination of children against 12 infections. The schedule is designed in accordance with the recommendations of world experts to achieve the best clinical results with minimal side effects.

Vaccination of children according to the calendar is carried out by certified specialists in licensed medical institutions. At the same time, only those vaccines that are officially registered in Russia are used.

Before the procedure, the doctor explains to parents why this or that vaccination is needed, what the possible risks and consequences of refusal are. After obtaining informed consent, a specialist examines the child - only clinically healthy children are vaccinated.

If 2 vaccinations are prescribed on the same day according to the calendar, then they are given to different areas of the body. In all other cases, the interval between immunizations is at least 30 days.

What vaccinations are given to children under one year of age?

The first procedure in the vaccination calendar for children under one year of age is scheduled almost immediately after birth - within the first 24 hours of life. As soon as the maternity hospital specialists dry, swaddle, weigh the child and carry out other necessary measures, he will be vaccinated against viral hepatitis B. This disease threatens severe liver damage and is especially dangerous in infancy, which explains such a rush.

Next on the schedule will be a vaccination against tuberculosis - it is done every 3-7 days. Then the frequency of preventive procedures decreases slightly. In total, the vaccination calendar for up to a year includes 13 vaccinations against the following infections (there are fewer positions in the list, because many vaccinations are repeated):

• viral hepatitis B;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumococcal infection;
• diphtheria;
• whooping cough;
• tetanus;
• polio;
• measles;
• rubella;
• mumps (mumps).

The vaccination schedule for some children may be expanded - up to 18 vaccinations. Children at risk for hepatitis B are prescribed additional vaccinations against this infection. Babies diagnosed with certain serious diseases are vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae.

Why vaccinate a baby before one year of age?

The sooner the baby receives the vaccine, the stronger his immunity will be. In 10 out of 10 cases, the body of a child vaccinated on time will cope with pathogens of dangerous infections, and the person will not get sick.

For example, if an unvaccinated baby contracts whooping cough, he may suffocate and die. If an infant develops diphtheria, films will block his airways. Hepatitis B will remain with the baby for the rest of his life and reduce its quality. Tuberculosis will reach the membranes of the brain and lead to irreversible changes.

It is unlikely that in the first months of life a child will encounter pathogens that cause deadly infections. But it is better to get vaccinated before the year. Because at one year old the baby will want to explore the world more actively and communicate with different people, and this is fraught with infection. If the body is protected by a vaccine, contact with bacteria and viruses will not result in a severe chronic illness.

What vaccinations are prescribed a year and later?

By 12 months, the baby is vaccinated against all dangerous infections, and in the future he only requires rare revaccinations. The vaccination calendar from one to 3 years of age includes only four visits to the doctor (five if the baby is at risk for hemophilus influenzae infection).

The next three repeated vaccinations are given to children before school - at 6–7 years old. Two more will need to be done at age 14. That's all!

How to prepare your baby for vaccination

Only healthy children are vaccinated. In order not to miss any disease with erased symptoms, show the baby to the pediatrician if you have been discharged from the maternity hospital a long time ago, or to a neonatologist if you want to vaccinate the child immediately after discharge.

We recommend additional consultation with an allergist and neurologist. Take a general blood and urine test and show the results to the doctors. If they warn you of a high risk of allergies, they will prescribe an antihistamine. Give it to your child 2 days before the injection.

Why are these particular diseases included in the vaccination schedule for children?

Because the Ministry of Health rightly considers them the most dangerous existing infections, and this is confirmed by the entire history of human civilization. Over the past centuries, these diseases have accounted for countless billions of dead and disabled people. Even today, this account is not closed, so keeping up with your children's vaccination schedule is extremely important!

Don’t believe it if someone says that the Ministry of Health has inflated the childhood vaccination calendar too much, while in other countries children are vaccinated against fewer diseases. In fact, the position of Russian healthcare is quite conservative. The World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination schedule for children is even longer. It also includes vaccination against the following infections.

What should I do if I want to expand the vaccination schedule for my children?

Do you want to follow WHO recommendations by adding additional vaccinations to the official vaccination schedule up to a year and at a later age? Nothing is impossible! Vaccinations against rotavirus, meningococcal infections, chickenpox and human papillomavirus are not yet included in the national vaccination calendar, but the vaccines themselves are registered in our country, approved by the Ministry of Health and are available for use.

The delay in the introduction of these vaccines does not mean that Russian doctors have not yet been convinced of their safety and effectiveness. The only thing is that the healthcare system needs time to resolve organizational and financial issues (for example, one dose of the vaccine against the human papillomavirus costs about 7,000 rubles, and on a national scale we are talking about billions). But work in this direction is underway: Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova promised that vaccinations against rotavirus and chickenpox will be included in the national schedule as early as 2020.

Some regions are not waiting for a decision from the federal center and are proactively introducing vaccination against these diseases into their own vaccination calendars. The Orenburg region has become a pioneer in vaccination against rotavirus infection, and other regions are starting to follow suit. Vaccination against the human papillomavirus is carried out in the Moscow region, Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug, Chelyabinsk, and St. Petersburg. There are also regional initiatives regarding chickenpox and meningococcal disease.

Find out which vaccinations from the extended list you can get for free at your place of residence. If some of them are not yet included in the calendar of your region, contact your doctor for paid vaccination.

What if we missed some vaccinations before the year?

This sometimes happens - due to the baby’s illness, forced departure and other reasons. If you have not completed any primary or repeated vaccinations on time, contact your doctor so that he can adjust your child’s vaccination schedule. Each vaccine has its own schedule of administration at certain intervals, so postponing it to a later date will also delay the next vaccinations.

But, of course, it is advisable not to skip vaccinations. Always remember: they are the basis for a long, healthy and happy life for your child!

What is vaccination?

Vaccination is the process of giving people vaccines, drugs that help build immunity against many infectious diseases.
Vaccine prevention begins at birth. In childhood, it is especially important for protection against infection with dangerous infections and for creating strong immunity for life. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers vaccination one of the main ways to combat infections. Thanks to vaccines, it was possible to eliminate some diseases (the last case of smallpox was registered in 1978) and significantly limit the spread of others (tetanus, measles, polio).

Are there risks?

Although the safety of each vaccine is strictly monitored, adverse reactions and complications cannot be ruled out when vaccinating children.

The most common undesirable effects after the administration of vaccines are not dangerous, pass quickly and do not require special treatment. This is redness at the injection site, fever, drowsiness, etc.

Complications are very rare (in 1% of cases, and severe ones are even less common) and are usually associated with defects in the immune system, allergic reactions, genetic predisposition, or the fact that the vaccine was given against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection. Before vaccination, the pediatrician must examine the child and only then issue a referral for vaccination.

Contraindications to vaccination may be:

• chronic disease or disease in the acute phase,
• suppressed immunity (for example, due to HIV infection or immunosuppressive therapy),
• neurological disorders,
• poor vaccine tolerance in the past,
• presence of allergies to vaccine components.

A complete list of contraindications is always indicated in the instructions for the vaccine product.

To further reduce the risk of complications, it is recommended:

• do not introduce new foods into the diet several days before and after vaccination, avoid contact with allergens;
• half an hour after the vaccine is administered, stay near the office or hospital in case an allergy develops, so that medical assistance can be quickly provided;
• follow the recommendations of the pediatrician and other doctors, report problems with the baby’s health after vaccination;
• 2 weeks before vaccination, it is advisable to avoid contact with infectious patients.

What should you pay attention to after vaccination?

In the first 30 minutes after administration of the drug, it is important to carefully monitor the child’s well-being. Monitor activity, breathing, skin color (Fig. 4). There should be no signs of allergies, sudden increases or decreases in body temperature. If alarming symptoms appear, contact the vaccination office immediately.

You need to monitor your well-being for 1–2 days, checking:

• body temperature. It may be elevated after the administration of some vaccines, but normally becomes normal the next day (rarely every other day);
• skin condition. There may be slight redness and an injection mark at the injection site. There should be no rash, swelling or large area of ​​redness.
• stool regularity, color and consistency;
• appetite is reduced on the first day after vaccination, but should return to normal;
• signs of allergies. There should be no itching, signs of breathing problems, or other symptoms of an allergic reaction;
• the general condition may deteriorate slightly in the first day or two after immunization, but then returns to normal.

Figure 4. Common side effects after receiving the influenza vaccine.
Source Important! If any unusual or alarming symptoms appear after vaccination, you should consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

Why is it important to vaccinate children?

Vaccination is needed to protect a child from dangerous diseases that can cause severe complications, disability or even death. Thus, polio threatens paralysis, measles - encephalitis, pneumococcal infection - pneumonia and meningitis. Many parents, when deciding to vaccinate, are afraid of post-vaccination complications, but they are much less common than the severe consequences of the diseases against which children are vaccinated. Not to mention the drug burden on the liver, kidneys and other internal organs during treatment for vaccine-preventable infections.

There are no effective treatments for some infections. For other diseases, existing treatment may be ineffective (pathogens are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics every year), and the child may suffer. Completing mandatory vaccinations is the most reliable prevention of such tragedies.

The baby's first months of life are protected from infections by the mother's antibodies, obtained through the placenta and with milk during breastfeeding, but this protection is not enough and weakens over time. Vaccinating children helps protect them from dangerous diseases. Even if the baby grows up in a safe environment, the risk of contracting dangerous infections remains. It will not be possible to completely control all his contacts, to exclude being with other people in the premises and the transmission of pathogens.

Important! In Russia, vaccines against major diseases are free. They are administered to children according to a specific schedule - the national vaccination calendar. A full course of vaccination allows you to build immunity against the twelve most dangerous infectious diseases. Vaccination of children is carried out under mandatory medical supervision, taking into account a number of conditions: health status, contraindications, allergies. This eliminates the risk of complications and forms stable immunity.

You should not refuse vaccinations also because this entails a number of restrictions:

• In the event of an epidemic threat, schools and kindergartens may refuse to allow unvaccinated children to attend. If quarantines are introduced sequentially for different reasons, and the incubation periods of diseases are long, the period of isolation can be up to several months. Violation of quarantine for a baby who has not been vaccinated is dangerous due to an increased risk of infection;
• a child who has not received polio vaccine should be separated from children vaccinated with oral polio vaccine for 60 days (live polio vaccine virus can be transmitted from child to child and is extremely rarely capable of causing symptoms of the disease if the child has not previously received an inactivated vaccine);
• a child without mandatory vaccinations may be prohibited from entering some countries.

The consequences of refusing vaccination can come back to haunt you in adulthood. When applying for a job that involves a risk of infection, or in an organization that monitors the health of employees, the applicant will not pass a medical examination.

An additional argument in favor of vaccination is the formation of herd immunity. If at least 80-95% of the population is vaccinated, the infection cannot spread, which means that the risk of getting sick is reduced for everyone, including those who cannot get vaccinated due to contraindications (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. How herd immunity is formed. A - there are no vaccinated people, and the infection affects almost everyone. B - There are few vaccinated people, almost all unvaccinated people get sick. C - there are many vaccinated people, the infection does not spread well. Source