Health Opinion

By Surjit Singh Flora | Sep. 17, 2024

 

I appreciate the concern of parents who prioritize the well-being of their children when it comes to vaccinations. None of them have ever encountered Measles, Mumps or Rubella firsthand. They have only encountered misleading information about the alleged risks of the vaccines.

Medical experts have worked tirelessly to develop several novel vaccinations that shield humans against infectious illnesses. This vaccination is readily accessible in primary health centers and government hospitals. Although they are widely accessible, very few individuals utilize them. People are becoming more vulnerable to illnesses daily, yet uninformed people are doing little to prevent them.

In Kenya, these vaccines are mandatory such as Vaccines and Medicines, Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio and Shingles.

 If an outbreak occurs at your child's school and your child lacks adequate protection, it might be necessary for them to stay at home until the situation is safe enough for them to return. They can miss several days or weeks of school. It is crucial to prioritize your child's safety and take necessary measures to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

Most paediatricians recommend vaccinations for children. It is wrong to leave it up to fate to protect them from diseases.

Vaccines play a crucial role in safeguarding children from various infectious diseases. They function by activating the body's immune system to generate antibodies that can combat the specific disease-causing organism, commonly referred to as pathogens. When a vaccinated child encounters the real pathogen, their immune system is well-equipped to identify and combat it.

Vaccines play a crucial role in safeguarding children's health as their immune systems are still developing and more susceptible to severe infections. Vaccines transform individual and community health. We can greatly reduce the spread of diseases by vaccinating a large portion of the population, which benefits even those who do not receive vaccinations.

Vaccines protect against a variety of diseases in children, including the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Children can also be protected against polio, chickenpox, Hepatitis A and B, Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal disease, Rotavirus, and Human papillomavirus (HPV).

Following the recommended vaccination schedule for children is crucial to ensuring they receive the necessary protection against these diseases. Ensuring that children receive vaccines on time is crucial for their health and well-being.

According to doctors, it is highly beneficial to vaccinate children against hepatitis 'B' at an early age. They recommend that babies receive the vaccine right after birth. This prevents disease germs from entering the child's body from the mother. The impact of these vaccines may not be immediate, but their long-term effects are significant.

The benefits of the vaccine far outweigh its minimal side effects. The vaccine is extremely safe to use. Most vaccine side effects are quite common, such as slight pain in the arms or legs after receiving an injection or a mild fever. A simple antibiotic medicine can effectively treat this type of problem. Instances of serious side effects are uncommon. Only a small fraction of children, about one in ten million, may experience serious side effects. The number is quite small, making it challenging to provide an accurate estimate.

Vaccines are a powerful tool in preventing diseases and safeguarding the health of both ourselves and those in our community. Some individuals choose not to receive vaccines due to allergies, while others are unaffected by them. These individuals may be susceptible to certain illnesses. That illness immunity is essential for their safety and others'.

Given the numerous benefits of using vaccines, it is critical to administer them to children in order to protect them from potentially fatal illnesses. Don't let any concerns about potential negative effects deter you from getting your children vaccinated. 

Surjit Singh Flora is a veteran journalist and freelance writer based in Brampton Canada