Seeing your child suffering from an illness is probably the worst thing you can experience as a parent. It doesn’t matter whether it is a common cold, upset stomach, or something more serious. You just want your child to feel better as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, little ones are susceptible to infection from a whole host of nasty bacteria and germs, as their immune system has insufficient ability to fight them. Luckily, childhood immunizations offer an excellent line of defense during your little one’s formative years.
Why should I get my child immunized?
The simple answer to this is because they are a highly effective method of keeping your child safe and healthy. Childhood fatalities have fallen drastically over the years as the provision of childhood immunizations has increased. This has led to serious diseases such as flu, tetanus, and polio becoming less fatal than in the past.
When?
Your pediatrician will be able to give you a detailed immunization schedule before the birth of your child. Different vaccinations are administered to children at different ages; for example, babies will receive their first Hep-B shot around the birthdate, while they won’t receive their first flu shot until they are two months old.
Unpleasant in the Short-Term, Life-saving in the Long Term
One of the objections which many parents have against immunizations is the injections and the trauma that puts the child through. However, this brief, unpleasant experience will offer significant protection against certain diseases which have the potential to drastically affect your child’s health and overall quality of life.
We cannot deny that there are likely to be stretches of crying during and after the injections especially in newborns; however, this only lasts for a few days at most. The injection itself is very quick, but may cause some discomfort as it is completely stimuli for your child to process.
Giving Your Child’s Developing Immune System a Helping Hand
During your pregnancy, your child will benefit from antibodies passed through the placenta. This will provide initial protection, while their body starts producing its own antibodies. However, this protection doesn’t last long, and without immunizations, your child will struggle to fight off infection from any infectious diseases they come into contact with.
For example, the flu in babies can potentially be a medical emergency, as they don’t have the strength to fight the virus. If your child has had the childhood flu vaccine, then they are likely to suffer a lot less if they come into contact with someone suffering from the virus.
Long-Term Benefits
Childhood illnesses can significantly impact the future health and quality of life of your child, which if complications arise can lead to a massive financial burden and emotional trauma for all members of the family.
Taking steps to ensure your child’s health through immunizations may incur a short-term financial burden, but in the long-term they help to ensure your child grows up to be a healthy adult, ensuring no lost time at school and work for the parents. Vaccinations are available throughout the country, and there are schemes in place for parents who have little or no insurance.
Protect Others Around You
Kids are magnets to germs, and they spread them easily due to a lack of awareness over personal hygiene, with mild stomach or cold bugs easily spreading around kindergartens and schools. In this environment, infectious diseases can have a major impact on the school population.
To counter this, most states require kids to have physicals before starting a new school, and have clear guidelines in place to protect the community. Immunizations are an essential part of this as are keeping your child away from school if they develop any symptoms of infectious diseases.
Need more information?
There is a lot to think about when raising a young family. Luckily there is a lot of help available regarding childhood illnesses and immunizations. And having the right information will ensure your peace of mind and the well-being of your child.
