Here’s Why Your Child’s Immunization Cannot Wait
In This Article
Taking care of your child is a full-time job. Even when you are having your me-time, you can’t help but be anxious about what your little one is up to. You are constantly plagued by information from all sorts of sources that tell you how to take better care of your child. However, as a parent, one can feel overwhelmed by not knowing what source to trust and what source to ignore. Every parent has their own opinion on the best method of child-rearing, and therefore, many times you might be confronted by contradicting opinions.
For instance, some parents believe that due to the imposed lockdown, staying indoors makes it less likely for a child to contract any disease. Even if your child is not going to school, it doesn’t mean that they are at a lesser risk of contracting an infection. Though they appear to be seemingly healthy and free from any kind of infection, you cannot be sure that your neighbor’s child or your son’s best friend doesn’t have an underlying illness or disease. In addition to that, if your child is a potential carrier, they can even infect adults like their grandparents or caregivers when they come into contact with them. Therefore, to protect your child and your community from such unforeseen circumstances, you should be on-schedule with your child’s vaccination since the time of his/her birth.
Administering regular DTP vaccination to your child ensures that your child is protected from harmful and fatal diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Two of these diseases, diphtheria, and pertussis, are highly contagious, while tetanus can be contracted from even a small, unfortunate cut. To prevent your child from contracting these diseases, your child must get the mandatory five doses of DTP vaccinations throughout the different stages of their childhood. The following are the different stages of childhood at which your child should receive a DTP booster shot:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15-18 months
- 4-6 years
Many parents carry the misconception that vaccinations are only meant for infants or toddlers. What they forget is that with adolescence comes the need to socialize not only with their peers or siblings but also adults who are in the immediate surrounding of the child. Therefore, an unvaccinated child is not the only victim if they contract the disease. The people surrounding that child can be possible victims too. As time progresses and the child grows into an adolescent, their immunity from these diseases wears off. Therefore, to boost your child’s immunity, it is recommended that you continue to administer DTP booster shots to adolescents (4-6 years), post-adolescent children (9-13 years), and even adults at an interval of 7-10 years.
These are the two DTP booster vaccines that you need to be aware of:
- Preschool booster: A full-strength booster for children of 4 to 6 years of age.
- Adolescent booster: A reduced strength booster for children of 9-13 years of age.
Understandably, the continuing lockdown may prove to be quite a hindrance to your vaccination plan. Reach out to your healthcare professional via telemedicine and video chat to find out what the best option is for you as per your child’s needs. Book an appointment instead of just showing up at a vaccination clinic with your children in tow. As they say, prevention is better than cure. Therefore, heed the warning signs and take your child for a DTP booster shot today. Listen to the child’s immunity alarm, and thus, #Don’tWaitaccinate.
If you have further questions regarding the importance of immunization, share it with us in the comments below.
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