Before immunizing, always ask for:
• Any previous hypersensitive reaction to a vaccine DTP,
• Any side effects of previous particularly CNS?
• H/O T.B. (before giving measles)?
Only if the answers to them are negative, vaccinate. If in doubt, seek expert opinion.
Are there situations where the child should not be vaccinated? Yes, there are and if your child fits into any of the following categories, be sure to tell your doctor.
• If there is any previous hypersensitivity/, allergic reaction to a vaccine.
• If a person is profoundly immunosuppressed (e.g. the person is on chemotherapy for cancer, is having some malignancy, is congenitally immunodeficient or is taking steroids chronically), then live vaccines are not to he given (BCG, Polio, Measles, MMR).
• Following DTP injection, if the child goes into a state of coma or abnormal behaviour, gets fever > 105″ F; has inconsolable crying for more than 3 hours or has excessivesleepiness for more than 4 hours or goes into a shock like state, then further doses of DTP are not given. Also if the child is having any progressive neurological disease, DTP is not given. Since the culprit is “P” i.e. Pertussis component, hence in future only DT is given.
Insist on the use of a sterile, disposable syringe for the immunisation of your child even if it means shelling out some money for the purchase of syringe and needle. Reused needles and syringes may be a source of infection to your child. Always buy syringes of reputed companies, even though they are costlier than the local brands. There is concern that local brands may be used syringes, recycled and sold in a fresh packaging.