Diseases like cholera, small pox, mumps, Rubella and Measles may sound unfamiliar to you. In the past, mostly children and tens of thousands of people died due to the outbreak of these diseases. Thanks to immunization, today the fear of these diseases is a thing of the past.
Your body has natural defense mechanisms to fight germs (microorganisms like bacteria and viruses). Generally, when germs enter into your body, your body has the ability to fight it off with the help of its Immune System. Once your Immune System fights off a particular bacterium or virus, it remembers the germ and can ward it off quickly if it encounters the germ again. This is the mode of action behind Immunization.
| | | What are vaccines?
Immunization is the easiest and safest way to prevent many infectious diseases. It makes you immune or resistant against a particular disease by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines contain small amounts of a killed or weakened microorganism that cause a particular disease.
When your Immune System confronts this harmless version of the germ, it produces antibodies (a variety of proteins which are produced in response to combat any harmful material that enter into your body) and builds immunity (protection) against that disease. |  |
Types of immunization- Active immunization: It is usually permanent and gives lifelong immunity.
- Passive immunization: It is temporary and does not provide lifelong immunity.
| Vaccines for your child
Early Immunization is essential for children as they are more vulnerable to certain diseases and the risk of complication is highest in young children. Some recommended vaccines that you should not delay getting your child vaccinated are: BCG: BCG vaccine protects your child against tuberculosis. It should be given soon after birth. | 
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Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B vaccine protects your child from hepatitis B infection, an infection of the liver that can lead to liver cancer and many other liver diseases. It is given in a series of three doses and provides lifelong immunity. The first dose should be given soon after birth. The second dose is given at 6 weeks and the third at 69 months after the first dose is given. An additional dose of a vaccine needed periodically to "boost" the Immune System called the booster dose should be given at the age of 10 years.
| Oral polio vaccine (OPV): It provides long-termprotection against polio. Polio is a viral infection that can result inpermanent paralysis. It is given orally as a series of 7 doses––at thetime of birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 6–9 months, 15–18 monthsand 5 years.
DTP vaccine: DTP vaccineprotects your child from diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis (whoopingcough). It is given as a series of five shots and usually administeredat ages 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 15–18 months (1st booster dose)and 5 years (2nd booster dose). | 
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MMR: MMR vaccine provides your child long-term immunity against measles, mumps, and Rubella. It should be given when your child reaches 9 months of age. Measles vaccine: Measles vaccine alone may be given when MMR is not available. It should be given when your child reaches 9 months of age. Optional vaccines:Apart from the above vaccines mentioned, some vaccines against many other diseases are also available. Your doctor is the best person to advise you whether these vaccinations need to be taken or not. These optional vaccines are: | | 
| Side effects of vaccines
Most of the vaccinesmentioned above have their related side effects. However, the risks ofnot vaccinating your child far outweigh the side effects. If you noticesome of the common side effects like fever or soreness under the skinwhere the shot was given, inform your doctor.
| | | | Vaccine | No. of doses | Age | | BCG | 1 | Birth | | Hepatitis B | | Birth, 6weeks, 6–9 months, 10 years (booster dose) | | Oral polio virus | 7 | Birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 6–9 months, 15–18 months, 5 years | | DTP | 5 | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 15–18 months (1stbooster dose), 5 years (2nd boosterdose) | | MMR | 1 | 9 months | | Measles | 1 | 9 months | | Tetanus | 2 | 10 years, 11–12 years |
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