IMMUNIZATIONS HEALTH TEACHING

Importance of Immunization to her child

Immunization is the process where 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.
Immunization is one of the most important and cost-effective interventions that the
government health system can provide to the poor and most vulnerable populations. Routine
immunization of children and women leads to the control and eventual eradication of preventable
diseases. Vaccines prevent the spread of contagious, dangerous, and deadly diseases. These
include measles, polio, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, diphtheria, and HPV. The first
vaccine discovered was the smallpox vaccine. Vaccines are essential as they protect your child
from life-threatening ailments.
It is important for her child for the protection they can get on having immunization, protection
against all of the following diseases: Bacterial Meningitis, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B,
Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis, Pneumococcal disease, Polio, Rubella, Tetanus,
Rotavirus Varicella.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines strengthen your child's natural immunity. The immune system protects the body by
battling pathogens. Boosting a child's natural defenses against sickness, immunizations are used
in their simplest but most efficient form. Vaccines teach the immune system how to recognize
and combat harmful germs and viruses that infiltrate the body.
THE VACCINES

BCG vaccine protects infants against tuberculosis. The letters B, C, G stand for Bacillus
Calmette-Guérin. Bacillus describes the shape of a bacterium while Calmette and Guérin are the
names of the people who developed the vaccine.
HepB vaccine is a cloudy liquid that is provided in single or multi-dose vials or in prefilled auto-
disable (AD) injection devices. Because the HepB vaccine contains only one antigen, it is called
a monovalent vaccine.
DPT-HepB+Hib Combination Vaccine (PENTA) Protects against five diseases: diphtheria,
tetanus, and pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
OPV is given orally, providing protection in the mouth, in the intestines, and then in the blood.
Protection in the mouth and intestines are important as polioviruses infect the mouth and
multiply in the intestines.
IPV is an injectable vaccine that provides protection in the blood . IPV further strengthens the
protection given by OPV and helps increase the overall protection of your child against polio.
Pneumococcal vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Types include: pneumococcal
polysaccharide vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is on the WHO’s List of
Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.
Measles-Rubella (MR)/Measles-Mumps -Rubella (MMR) Combination Vaccines In
the Philippines, the NIP uses combination vaccines for measles and rubella (MR) or for measles,
these are provided in powder form with diluents and must be reconstituted before they can be
used.
What are the risks of skipping vaccines?
There are dangers involved with delaying, skipping, or rejecting all or partial immunizations.
With this decision comes a significant obligation to safeguard your child's life, as well as the
lives of others in your family, community, or other places you visit.

CONTRAINDICATIONS OF DIFFERENT VACCINES AVAILABLE IN PHILIPPINES

AND RECOMMENDED BY DOH FOR USE AGAINST VACCINE-PREVENTABLE
DISEASES
1. TUBERCOLOSIS – BCG
 CONTRAINDICATIONS: Known HIV infection and other immune deficiency.
PRECAUTION FOR HIV:
If the Mother is HIV positive, the new born must be tested for HIV. However if the HIV test is
not available, BCG vaccine is NOT given.
• If the Baby is positive with HIV infection, BCG vaccine is NOT given.
• If the Baby is negative for HIV infection, BCG vaccine is given.
PRECAUTION FOR TB:
If the new born baby is exposed to smear positive tuberculosis clients (mother or other first
degree relative), it is recommended that the infant be treated with Isoniazid for 6 months before
administering BCG vaccine.

2. HEPATITIS B VACCINE
CONTRAINDICATIONS: There are no contraindications, except if a very rare anaphylactic
reaction to a previous dose has occurred. In this case, Hep B should not be given again.

3. POLIO VACCINE
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Known hypersensitivity (allergy) or anaphylaxis to a previous dose.

4. DPT-HepB+Hib COMBINATION VACCINE (PENTA)

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity (allergy) after a previous dose.

5. Pneumococcal vaccine
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity (allergy) after a previous dose.

6. Measles-Rubella (MR) and Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Combination Vaccines

CONTRAINDICATIONS: For Measles Containing Vaccine(MCV)
• Known allergy to vaccine components (including neomycin and
gelatin)
• Pregnancy
• Severe congenital or acquired immune disorders, including
advanced HIV infection/AIDS

7. Rotavirus Vaccine
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
 • Severe allergic reaction to previous dose
• Severe immunodeficiency (but not HIV infection)
• History of uncorrected congenital malformation of gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Possible Adverse effects of immunization to her child

1. BCG
Uncommon side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people at each dose):
- Headache and a raised temperature (fever)
- An ulcer which develops from the blister at the injection site, two to six weeks after
injection. This may be painful and take several weeks or months to heal fully.
- Swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit larger than 1 cm across
- An enlarged lymph node that becomes infected (lymphadenitis)
More severe skin reactions. These usually heal within a few weeks.
- Bone inflammation (osteitis or osteomyelitis)
- An abscess at the injection site

2. HEPA B
Get emergency medical help if your child has signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty
breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if your child has:
- breathing that stops during sleep;
- fever, chills,
- swollen glands.
- fussiness, irritability,
- crying for an hour or longer;
- unusual muscle weakness; changes in behavior; or
- severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your
eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or
upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

3. PENTA 1
Rare (affecting up to 1 in 1000 people at each dose):
- high temperatures, sometimes leading to fits (also called convulsions or febrile seizures)
- unusual high-pitched screaming and hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes (HHE),
during which the child may become blue, pale and/or limp.
- Anaphylaxis
 4. OPV1
- Allergic reaction (Such as Hives, Itching, flushed skin, paleness, low blood pressure,
swollen throat or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, rapid or weak pulse, swelling of
the face or lips, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, blue-colored skin)

5. PVC
Serious side effects of the PCV vaccine are rare, and include:
- a high temperature, possibly leading to convulsions (febrile seizures)
- allergic reactions, such as an itchy skin rash

6. MMR
- Moderate: pain and stiffness of the joints, seizure, and low platelet count
- Serious: allergic reaction, which can cause hives, swelling, and trouble breathing
(extremely rare)

Common side effects and adverse reactions to vaccination:

BCG
*COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
- Headache and raised body temperature (fever)
- Ulcer which develops in from the blister
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Lymphadenitis
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
- Bone inflammation (osteitis or osteomyelitis)
- Abscess at the injection site
HEPA B
*COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
- Low fever (less than 101 degrees)
- Sore arm from the shot
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
- Hives
- Breathing that stops during sleep
- Swollen glands
- Fussiness, irritability
 -Unusual muscle weakness; changes in behavior
-Severe skin reaction fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your
eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or
upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
PENTA 1
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
Rare (affecting 1 of 1000 people at each dose)
- High body temperatures, sometimes leading to fits (convulsions or febrile seizure)
- Unusual high-pitched screaming and hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes (HHE), during
which the child may become blue, pale and/or limp
- Anaphylaxis
OPV 1
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
- Allergic reactions such as;
- Hives
- Itching
- Flushed skin
- Paleness
- Low blood pressure
- Swollen throat or tongue
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
- Rapid or weak pulse
- Swelling of the face or lips
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Cyanosis
PCV
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
- High body temperature that could lead to convulsions or febrile seizure
- Allergic reactions, such as an itchy skin rash
MMR
*ADVERSE REACTIONS
MODERATE:
- Pain or stiffness of the joints, seizure, and platelet count
SERIOUS:
 - ALLERGIC REACTIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE HIVES, SWELLING, AND
TROUBLE BREATHING (EXTREMELY RARE)

Misconceptions about Vaccines

Many misconceptions about vaccines have persisted for decades because of a poor understanding
of how vaccination works. Some of the most common vaccination-related misconceptions are
addressed here.
The “Overloaded Immune System” Misconception
Perhaps the most common misconception is that a child’s immune system can be “overloaded” if
the child receives multiple vaccines at once. This concern first began to appear as the
recommended childhood immunization schedule expanded to include more vaccines, and as
some vaccines were combined into a single shot. However, studies have repeatedly demonstrated
that the recommended vaccines are no more likely to cause adverse effects when given in
combination than when they are administered separately.
Home remedies after immunization
Feed Your Baby to Relieve Vaccination Pain
Feeding your baby may help relieve vaccination pain. A recent study found that babies who were
breast-fed during the vaccination cried less. "Younger kids and babies are much better at living
in the present moment," Haller says, and as a result, their minds can switch quickly from "hurt,
hurt, hurt" to "food, food, food."
A Little Sugar Water May Help Shots Under 6 Months
Several studies have found that sugar doesn't just help the medicine go down, but can take the
sting out of vaccination pain, too. A taste of sugar is particularly helpful in babies under 6
months
Apply a cool, wet cloth.
If your child experiences discomfort at the injection site after vaccination, putting a cool, wet
cloth on the spot can help reduce tenderness and swelling.
Give your child lots of liquid.
Give your child more liquids as a replacement, it’s normal for some children to eat less during
the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
Numbing Medicine May Soothe a Newborn
Rub-on agents that numb the skin, such as EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) cream,
can help dampen vaccination pain.
Philippines Catch-up Campaigns
Catch-up campaigns are necessary to provide a second opportunity for those who missed
immunization and those who were immunized but failed to develop immunity. These are
conducted during a period of several days or weeks over wide geographic areas. 2.2. Follow-up
campaigns are held after catch-up campaigns to reach children in a narrower age range. In the
Philippines, a series of five Measles Catch-up and Follow-up campaigns were implemented
every four years beginning 1998.

Non-pharmacological measures such as hand hygiene, to prevent the spread of illnesses

within the family and community.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are numerous
scientific studies showing that you need to scrub your hands together for 20 seconds to
remove harmful germs and chemicals. This is because when soap and water are worked
together, it creates a lather. A good lather forms pockets called micelles that trap
and remove germs, harmful chemicals, and dirt. Lathering with soap and scrubbing for 20
seconds physically destroy germs and remove them from your skin.
- Covering your coughs and sneezes
- Cleaning frequently touched surfaces or objects
- Being prepared and informed