Modern medicine offers a wide range of control against various diseases. However, it is always better to prevent the disease than to treat an already begun illness. One effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination, or vaccination.
Most often, this procedure is done to children. But the maximum intervals between vaccinations against certain diseases are ten years, and then adults also undergo this procedure.
The essence of vaccination is as follows: a small amount of infectious material is administered to a healthy person. The body's immune system recognizes the material and is included in the fight. Since the amount is small, it does not harm the body, and the disease does not go into a dangerous stage. And after vaccination a person develops immunity to infection.
Appearance story
For several centuries, epidemics of smallpox, plague, cholera and other infectious diseases have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Even in ancient times, it was noticed that people who have contracted smallpox become immune to this disease. The same was true for milkmaids milking sick cows. The experiments showed: if a small amount of the virus is brought into the wound, then the person experiences a slight malaise, incomparable with the full form of the disease and subsequently acquires immunity. This is what laid the foundation for the vaccination phenomenon.
In modern medicine, the vaccination method has been perfected. Be sure to adhere to certain requirements for vaccination, observe the intervals between vaccinations and follow the recommendations of doctors.
Vaccine classification
- Live vaccines. Live viral microorganisms are introduced to humans. They are able to live and multiply in the human body, causing a natural immune response. This type of vaccination is most commonly used for mumps, measles, rubella, and tuberculosis. It is important to keep in mind that people with immunodeficiency may experience unpredictable reactions to the vaccine.
- Dead vaccines. In this case, organisms killed by temperature, radiation or ultraviolet radiation are used. Used against rabies, whooping cough.
- Chemical vaccines. They contain part of the pathogenic microorganism.
- Synthetic vaccines. Artificially grown elements of microorganisms.
- Associated vaccines. These vaccines contain the components of several diseases. An example of such a drug is DTP. The intervals between vaccinations using this vaccine will be discussed in the next section.
DTP
This is an associative vaccine for pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. This method of vaccination is an effective means of preventing these diseases and is widely used throughout the world. Mortality from these diseases is extremely high, especially among children, therefore it is advisable to give this vaccine to the child in the first year of life.
Vaccination occurs in several stages. The minimum age for the first DTP vaccine is four weeks. After a month, you can assign a second, after another 30 days - a third. The minimum interval between the third and fourth DTP vaccinations is 12 months. The intervals between vaccinations may vary slightly due to the health status of the child. In case of illness, the time frame can be extended.
Hepatitis vaccine
Hepatitis is a serious infectious disease that causes many complications. There are three forms of this virus - hepatitis A, B and C. The first type is transmitted by domestic means. It does not pose a serious threat to health and is easily treatable. Hepatitis B is transmitted through the blood. This is a rather dangerous form of the disease, causing serious liver damage. Hepatitis C is the most severe form of the disease. It is also transmitted exclusively through the blood.
Currently, only hepatitis A and B vaccines exist.
Vaccination against this disease is not necessary, but many people prefer to get this vaccine so as not to risk their health.
The interval between hepatitis vaccinations is as follows. Vaccination takes place three times, the difference between vaccinations should be a month. It is recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis B in the first year of a child’s life, immediately after birth.
What is the interval between measles, smallpox, flu, encephalitis vaccines?
Vaccination has its own requirements for the implementation and the established deadlines.
| 1-2 vaccination | 2-3 vaccination | 3-4 vaccination |
| Measles | 6 months | | |
| Chickenpox | 6-10 weeks | | |
| Flu | 4 weeks | once a year |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | 2 months | 1 year | every 3 years |
The intervals between vaccinations may vary in each case.
Vaccination rules
- Vaccination of children occurs strictly with the consent of the parents.
- Vaccinations are given only to a healthy child.
- Children with chronic diseases are recommended to be vaccinated no earlier than in their second year of life.
- Often sick children should be tested before vaccination, in order to avoid serious pathologies.
- The intervals between vaccinations should be consistent with vaccination requirements. It is especially undesirable to vaccinate ahead of schedule.
- Vaccination is carried out only in a medical institution by a qualified worker.
- It is important to follow the rules for storing and transporting the vaccine.
- After vaccination, it is undesirable to immediately leave the medical institution, it is recommended to linger for 10-15 minutes to make sure that there are no unexpected reactions.
- Often after vaccination, sensations such as pain at the site of vaccination, weakness, and a slight increase in temperature can occur. These symptoms are normal and should go away within 2-3 days. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor.
Whether to be vaccinated is the choice of each person, but it is important to remember that vaccination is an effective and necessary means of preventing a large number of diseases, especially in children.