Why are vaccinations needed?

We protect children from the most dangerous and common infections with the help of vaccines.

Vaccines are, as a rule, not even whole microorganisms, but only parts of them. When introduced into a child’s body, vaccines cannot cause an infectious disease, but provide the production of protection (antibodies and special cells). When the body encounters a real infectious agent, the developed defense prevents the development of the disease or mitigates the severity of its course.

Thus, when introducing vaccines, we “introduce” the child’s body to infectious agents and “teach” methods to combat them.

Can a child’s body cope with infectious agents on its own? The immune system protects the body from any antigens, including pathogens of infectious diseases. It is able to protect the child from antigens and microorganisms that constantly surround us - for example, against common E. coli, simple streptococci. But the immune system is unable to cope with the pathogens of diphtheria, viral hepatitis B, tetanus, whooping cough and other infectious diseases.

How safe is vaccination for a child?

After vaccination, some children may have fever, redness, or tenderness where the vaccine was given. This is a natural reaction that indicates the beginning of the formation of protection against infection. It is associated with the individual characteristics of the body. Such reactions are short-term and do not require treatment. It is extremely rare that more serious side effects (complications) may develop. You need to know that the likelihood of developing complications after an infectious disease is thousands of times greater than the risk of complications after vaccination. Modern vaccines are highly effective and safe drugs.

Is it always possible for everyone to get vaccinated?

Vaccinations are not carried out during periods of acute or exacerbation of a chronic disease: they are postponed until recovery or remission is achieved. However, if the risk of contracting an infection is high (for example, after contact with a sick person), then a number of vaccines can be administered against the background of minor symptoms of an acute or chronic disease. An individual approach is applied to each child: before any vaccination, the doctor examines the child and decides on the possibility of its implementation. Vaccinations are especially necessary for children with chronic diseases: their infections are much more severe, often aggravating the course of the underlying disease. Such children tolerate vaccinations well.

Hepatitis B vaccine

The first injection is on the second day after birth, in case of timely delivery and the absence of severe genetic and chronic diseases, subsequent injections at 3 and 6 months. The injection is given in the upper thigh.

There are no special side effects. There may be a slight fever and short-term anxiety of the baby due to painful sensations. Contraindications : allergies, chronic diseases, acute respiratory viral infections, intestinal disorders, fever and teething.

Vaccination against tuberculosis

The child is vaccinated in the first week of life. The injection site is the left shoulder. Repeated vaccination at 6 or 7 years of age. Subcutaneous suppuration may appear for several weeks - an absolutely adequate reaction of the body. Do not touch the vaccination site under any circumstances or apply antiseptics. If the injection site turns blue and the axillary lymph nodes become enlarged, you should go to the clinic. It is prohibited to vaccinate if certain factors are present: malignant blood diseases, the presence of tuberculosis in the body, a risk group for HIV infection, malignant formations.

Temporary contraindications : prematurity of the baby, intrauterine complications and infections, acute diseases.

How to fill out vaccination forms correctly?

The district nurse is responsible for filling out vaccination forms. The document is kept in the local clinic. The certificate is a standard form of Form 63. Filling out by hand in Latin or in Russian.

The document displays the following information:

• FULL NAME;
• Date of Birth;
• place of residence;
• time of registration at the local clinic;
• immunization period;
• name of the vaccine;
• vaccination code according to medical classification;
• name and series of the drug;
• dosage of the administered drug;
• vaccine administration area;
• local reaction of the vaccinated person to the vaccine.

Rules for filling out the form:

• do not make blots or corrections;
• write in legible handwriting;
• certify the form with the seal of the medical institution.

DTP vaccine – against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus

Vaccinated at 3, 4.5 and 6 months. A revaccination injection is given after a year. The injection is made into the thigh intramuscularly. The manifestation of adverse reactions is possible only in the first 3 days; any late suspicious manifestations and complications in the child’s body have absolutely nothing to do with the vaccine. There may be redness and swelling at the injection site and increased temperature. If the temperature exceeds 40 degrees, immediately go to the hospital. It is recommended not to leave the clinic for 30-40 minutes after the injection. Very rarely, during this period of time, children may experience allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock. If any complications occur, immediate assistance will be provided. Contraindications are similar to those for the tuberculosis vaccine.

Vaccination abbreviations and their interpretation

Vaccination is a process in which antigenic material is introduced into the body to produce antibodies to certain diseases. Patients are given a referral for immunoprophylaxis. The vaccination performed is recorded in a special document. The names of vaccinations in medical papers are usually abbreviated.

So, in a card or direction you can see the following abbreviations:

• DPT;
• ADSM;
• PPP;
• HBV;
• HAV;
• BCG;
• PDA;
• DST;
• PME;
• PPM;
• OPV;
• IPV;
• GIB;
• ZhPV.

It is important to be able to decipher vaccination abbreviations: the patient must be fully aware of what pathologies he is being immunized against.

DPT AND ADSM

DTP is an adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. Contains toxoids and attenuated cells of pathogens. Immunization is carried out from the age of three months.

Vaccination protects against the following diseases:

• whooping cough The first symptoms of this pathology are similar to the flu or a cold. Whooping cough manifests itself as high fever, cough with sputum, and runny nose. The patient's condition is getting worse every day. The cough becomes paroxysmal in nature, may be accompanied by hemoptysis, vomiting, and lead to respiratory arrest;
• diphtheria . Bacteria of this pathology secrete a strong poison that poisons all organs and systems. Most often the liver, heart, and kidneys are affected. Often the causative agent of diphtheria is localized in the larynx and throat. Severe inflammation and swelling can cause asphyxia and death;
• tetanus _ Despite the development of medicine, today there are still no effective cures for this pathology. Bacteria attack the spinal canal and lead to seizures. If the causative agent of tetanus affects the respiratory organs and causes them to spasm, then death occurs.

These diseases are considered highly contagious. Children under two years of age are especially susceptible to them. ADSM is an adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus vaccine . The drug contains half the dose of toxoids than DTP. Suitable for immunization of weakened children and adults.

ADSM vaccine

DPT, ADSM are domestically produced drugs. To protect against infection with dangerous viral and bacterial pathologies, imported products Pentaxim and Tritanrix NV are also used.

PPP

TPP is a vaccine against polio. Depending on the type of drug used, vaccination can be carried out with a live or inactivated agent. Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious disease of the nervous system. The virus attacks the gray matter of the spinal cord and causes paralysis.

After suffering a pathology, a person may remain disabled for life. Therefore, TPN is the only method of preventing infection with the polio virus. Vaccination begins at three months of age.

Vaccine Imovax Polio

Today, the following drugs are used to protect children and adults from polio:

• Poliorix;
• Infanrix IPV;
• Imovax Polio;
• Oral polio vaccine;
• Pentaxim;
• Tetrakok.

HBV and HAV

HBV is a vaccination against the hepatitis B virus. HBV vaccination is included in the list of mandatory ones. The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver, causing inflammation and cell destruction. Often the disease leads to cirrhosis and cancer.

The pathology is especially dangerous for children: in 50% of cases, hepatitis suffered in infancy becomes chronic. Therefore, people begin to be vaccinated against infection with such a virus from birth.

Vaccine Regevak B

The following drugs are used for prevention:

• Regevak B;
• Engerix;
• Bubo-Kok;
• Eberbiovac;
• Euvax.

HAV stands for hepatitis A vaccination. The disease is characterized by liver damage. In Russia, hepatitis A virus is not particularly common. Therefore, immunization is optional.

Prevention is recommended for the following categories of the country's population:

• military personnel;
• medical staff;
• food service workers;
• patients with chronic liver pathologies;
• employees of educational and educational institutions;
• drug addicts.

The following vaccines are used to protect against hepatitis A virus:

• Algavac M;
• Avaxim;
• Havrix.

The first drug to protect against hepatitis B infection was created in 1982, but mass vaccination began only in 2002.

BCG

BCG is an abbreviation that is written in Russian letters and is a tracing paper of the Latin letters BCG. Stands for bacillus Calmette-Guerin (Calmette-Guerin bacillus) . You can also find BCG - this is an abbreviation of the name of the vaccine translated into Russian.

BCG is one of the first vaccines given to newborns. Prevention is carried out to protect against tuberculosis. This disease is quite common in the country and is considered highly contagious. Therefore, immunization is mandatory.

Tuberculosis is an infectious pathology characterized by damage to the lungs. Sometimes bacteria affect the nervous and genitourinary systems, and the musculoskeletal system.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is manifested by cough with sputum, fever, fatigue, tachycardia, chest pain, shortness of breath, and sudden weight loss. Pathology can cause internal bleeding and pneumothorax.

There is also the BCG-M vaccine. This is a complete structural analogue of BCG, which contains half the dosage. This drug is used for weakened individuals.

PDA

MMR is a vaccine that protects against rubella, mumps and measles . These are highly contagious pathologies. Children under ten years of age are most often infected with them.

Rubella is a disease that in some cases occurs in a mild form. The main symptoms are fever, rash on the body, and swollen lymph nodes.

Mumps is a disease in which the virus attacks the glandular organs (testes, pancreas and salivary glands). Sometimes the central nervous system is also involved in the pathological process.

Measles is a viral disease that manifests itself as hyperthermia, sore throat, cough, rash on the body, and general poor health. Pathology leads to damage to the blood vessels and capillaries of the eyes. As a result, the infected person experiences photophobia.

All three pathologies are dangerous in their consequences. For example, mumps can lead to male infertility, measles - to polyneuritis, bronchopneumonia, encephalitis, rubella - to pneumonia, thrombocytopenic purpura. MMR vaccination begins at one year of age. Domestic and foreign drugs can be used for immunization.

Priorix vaccine

The following vaccination products are registered in the country:

• GIB;
• ZhPV;
• Ruwax;
• Priorix;
• Ervevax;
• Rudivax;
• MMR-II.

DST

DST stands for Diaskintest . Many people consider DST a vaccination. But this is more of a diagnostic method. Like the Mantoux test, Diaskintest is designed to detect the presence of antibodies to tuberculosis, a latent form of pathology.

This research method is considered more informative and accurate. The drug for performing DST contains synthetic antigens CFP10, ESAT6. When the drug is introduced into the body, a response occurs.

The result is assessed after a few days. If the infiltrate is less than 5 mm, this means that there is no bacterial infection. When the papule is 5-14 mm, then infection occurs. Moreover, the larger the spot, the higher the likelihood of tuberculosis.

Other abbreviations for vaccines for children and adults

In the medical record of a child or adult, you can also find other abbreviations:

• MAP is a vaccination against meningococcal infection. Bacteria can cause inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis develops quickly, with an increase in intoxication and neurological signs. In some cases, the pathology ends in death;
• LCV is a live measles vaccine. It is a one-component drug containing a weakened virus. LPV stands for live mumps vaccine;
• OPV is the oral polio vaccine. The drug contains a live attenuated virus. Available in the form of oral drops. The liquid has a bitter-salty taste. For children, the solution is dripped onto the tonsils. The advantage of OPV is that the integrity of the epidermal integument is not compromised during immunization. The disadvantage of vaccination is the possibility of developing vaccine-associated pathology;
• IPV . Stands for inactivated polio vaccine. The drug is available in injection form. The composition contains killed strains of three types of viruses. IPV is considered a safer vaccine than OPV.

In Russia, it is customary to start polio prevention with inactivated drugs and continue with live vaccinations.