There are many different types of vaccines and each should be given according to the vaccination schedule of the Ministry of Health. Understanding vaccines correctly and knowing the vaccination schedule for your children is the way to keep your baby healthy.

What is a vaccine?

Vaccines are biological products that help improve the body's resistance to disease. Vaccines are mainly weakened antigens. These antigens correspond to different diseases, allowing the body to familiarize itself with the disease without appearing any symptoms.

When given, the vaccine works by helping the body's immune system prepare for disease with similar antigens, like vaccines that may be encountered in the future. The immune system can do this naturally, but the process can usually take several days if the immune system is not familiar with the invading antigens. Child vaccination is currently one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases.

What's in vaccines?

The composition of the vaccine includes antigens and ancillary ingredients such as excipients and preservatives. Some of the more common types of antigens are:

Virus live, attenuated. They are too weak to cause illness, but still enough to cause the body to produce an immune response. These are commonly used in the measles , mumps , rubella , rotavirus , chickenpox and a flu vaccine.

Inactivated virus (dead). Inactivated viruses are weaker than viruses that only reduce their virulence, but the body can still recognize them and create an immune response to protect. Vaccines that commonly contain these antigens include the vaccine against polio, hepatitis A , influenza and rabies.

Virus extraction. This type is obtained from specific parts of the dead virus. Typical vaccines are hepatitis B and HPV.

Extraction bacteria. Similar to the above, this antigen comes from a specific part of the dead bacteria. The vaccines prepared in this manner are usually Hib, pneumococcal , meningococcal, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Getting vaccinated for children is very important because young children and babies are more susceptible to the disease than any other age. If your child is not vaccinated, there is a high risk of developing serious illnesses. 

Types of vaccines for children

Here are the vaccines that are common in childhood vaccinations:

6-in-1 vaccine: this vaccine helps protect children from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and hepatitis B.

Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV): Helps prevent pneumococcal infections.

Vaccine to prevent diarrhea caused by Rotavirus: This vaccine prevents children from becoming infected with Rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhea in children.

Men-B vaccine: This vaccine helps prevent meningitis caused by meningococcal type B bacteria.

Hib / Men C vaccine: This vaccine protects children against Hib bacteria and meningitis caused by meningitis type C bacteria.

MMR vaccine: helps protect children from measles, mumps and scarlet fever.

Flu vaccine: helps prevent flu.

4-in-1 vaccine: helps prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio.

3-in-1 vaccine: helps prevent tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

HPV vaccine: a vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer in girls.

ACWY Men Vaccine: Helps prevent meningitis caused by bacteria types A, C, W and Y.

Optional vaccines help protect children from chickenpox, tuberculosis, influenza and hepatitis B.

Immunization schedule for children in stages

Parents should pay attention to bring babies to medical centers to vaccinate according to vaccination schedule. The vaccination schedule for children from birth to age 15 includes:

The first 8 weeks

Hepatitis B vaccine: 1 shot as soon as possible (within the first 24 hours of life)

BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis: 1 shot as soon as possible (in the first month after birth)

6-in-1 vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccine

Rotavirus vaccine

Men-B Vaccine

12 weeks

Vaccine 6 in 1 2nd shot

2nd dose Rotavirus vaccine

16 weeks:

Vaccine 6 in 1 3rd shot

Pneumococcal vaccine

Men-B Vaccine

1 year old:

MMR vaccine

Hib / Men C vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccine

Yeast B vaccine

From 2–8 years old:

Annual flu vaccine for children

3 years and 4 months:

4-in-1 vaccine before children go to school

MMR vaccine

From 12-13 years old:

HPV vaccine

14 years old:

3-in-1 vaccine

MenACWY vaccine

When should my child not be vaccinated?

Not all children can be vaccinated. If your child has any of the following, talk to your doctor before giving the shot:

Your child is allergic to a vaccine that was previously given.

If the child has serious neurological problems, they should not get vaccines such as pertussis, polio, or tetanus.

Your child has an immune system problem in the body. Children with weakened immune systems from oral medications or certain medical conditions should not get vaccines containing live viruses (for example, chickenpox virus, polio or measles). If given in the body, the vaccine contains a live virus that will immediately cause illness if the child has a weak immune system.

Your child is allergic to eggs. Children with severe allergies to eggs should not get the flu vaccine. But your baby can still get the other vaccines. The measles and mumps vaccine was developed from inside chicken cells, but the protein in the eggs has been separated from the vaccine. Your child does not need to be tested for egg allergies while getting these vaccines.

Your child has experienced soreness, redness or swelling in the area where the pertussis vaccine was given.

Your child has a fever lower than 40.5 ° C after getting the pertussis vaccine.

Your child has a mild illness such as a cold, cough or diarrhea without showing signs of fever.

Your child is recovering from mild illnesses such as a cold, cough or diarrhea.

Your child has recent signs of an infectious disease.

Your child is taking antibiotics.

Your child is young, not old enough.

Your baby is still breastfeeding.

Your child is allergic (except to eggs).

Your family has a history of epilepsy or sudden infant death (SIDS).

Consequences of not vaccinating children

Vaccination is proven to be a safe and effective preventive measure for children. According to studies, some cases have vaccination records appear the side effect is not desired. However, these serious side effects are rare. Unless a child has special circumstances that cannot be vaccinated, vaccination is still the safest choice to ensure the baby's health.

Many parents are not vaccinated due to concerns about vaccine safety . The consequences of not being vaccinated or vaccinated on time (eg late vaccination) are very serious. Usually, unvaccinated children are more likely to get diseases for which they have not been immunized. This is very dangerous and can have irreversible consequences on a child's health and risk for those around it.

Not being vaccinated can put children at risk and reduce immunity in the communities where they live. If the community around the child does not have sufficient immunity, there is a risk of an outbreak. When babies are vaccinated late, they are at risk for being affected by different diseases over a longer period of time. What's more, delaying vaccination may even increase a child's risk of side effects following vaccination. 

So, you should learn carefully to avoid making false statements about vaccinations that affect your child's health.