Child Immunization Schedule & Vaccination Chart
Here is all the information you need to know about your child's immunization, read to know your child's immunization schedule.
The Schedule of recommended immunizations may vary depending upon where your country & the guidelines from the local and central health department. A complete list of vaccines is published by the the health department and these vaccines may be given as part of a combination vaccine to save the child from too many shots. It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection.
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Countrywise Immunization Schedule
Different vaccines are given at different ages to protect your baby. Find out when your baby need these vaccinations. Easy guide to the countrywise vaccinations schedule and age criteria.
About the childhood Immunisation
What is the meaning of child immunization?
Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.
What are the 5 types of immunization?
There are five main types of vaccines:
- attenuated (live) vaccines
- inactivated vaccines
- toxoid vaccines
- subunit vaccine
- conjugate vaccines
What is the importance of immunization?
As per WHO, Immunization currently prevents 3.5-5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles. Immunization is a key component of primary health care.
How do vaccines work?
The process of vaccination involves giving a person small, harmless amounts of an infectious agent (for example a virus) in order for the immune system to see it and prepare itself for the next time it meets the same infectious agent. Some vaccines are weakened forms of live infectious agents (called live attenuated vaccines) and some are inactivated parts of the infectious agent.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them
Routine childhood immunisations program by any country is designed to protect your child against following life threatening diseases
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Whooping Cough (pertussis)
- Polio
- Pneumococcal disease
- Meningococcal ACWY disease
- Hepatitis B
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Rotavirus
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella (German measles)
- influenza (flu)
- Typhoid
- Tuberculosis
Vaccination tips for parents
Pre-immunisation checklist – Do’s and Don’ts
- Always remember to take your child’s personal health record booklet
- Always dress your baby in clothes that are easy to remove expecially for kids below 1 years as vaccination to babies are given on thigh/arm.
- Don’t do unplanned visits for vaccination, always take appointment from your child’s paediatrician
- Inform your child’s pediatrician, if your baby is having any fever, allergy or other medical condition
- Tell the doctor if your baby is unwell (temperature over 101.4 F or 38.5 C)
- Tell the doctor if your child was born prematurely less than 32 weeks gestation period
- Tell the doctor if your child has a chronic illness
What to expect after the vaccination is given
Immunisations are effective and safe, like any other medication vaccines can also have unwanted side effects.
After receiving a vaccination, your infant or toddler could cry for a little while, but they should feel better after a cuddle. The place where the needle is inserted occasionally remains red and uncomfortable for two to three days. This will go away on its own, please inform your doctor incase swelling is not going away.
Some kids might feel irritable and ill, and others might get a high temperature (fever).
How to treat a high fever after vaccination
Common side effects following immunisation are usually mild and temporary and therefore no specific treatment is required. In case your child develops a high temperature:
- Please make sure they’re not wearing too many layers of clothes or blankets
- give them plenty to drink
- You can also give them paediatric liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring their temperature down if baby has pain or fever or baby is crying a lot.
How to manage injection site reactions?
Vaccine injections may result in temporary soreness, redness, itching, swelling or a burning feeling for one to 2 days at the site where injection is given.
You can use Paracetamol and a cool compress on the injection site to ease the discomfort.
What if your child misses an immunisation?
If because of any reason you child is behind or missed a vaccine. Please consult your child’s doctor above catch up doses of vaccine or next steps.
Sources: UNICEF, WHO, CDC, NHS and each country’s Pediatric Society
Glossary of terms
| Adjuvant | An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine to increase the body’s immune response to the vaccine |
| Conjugate vaccine | A conjugate vaccine combines a weak (polysaccharide or sugar) antigen to a strong antigen (carrier protein (preferably)) as a carrier. |
| Immunization | The process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Immunization can also occur naturally as a consequence of natural infection. |
| Inactivated vaccine | An inactivated vaccine (or killed vaccine) consists of virus particles which have been grown and then killed. |
| Live attenuated vaccine | A vaccine created by modifying an infectious agent while still keeping it alive so that it becomes harmless or less virulent. |
| Vaccination | Adminstration of a killed or weakened organism into the body so that the body produces immunity against that organism. |
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