What is immunization?

• Immunization protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they contact them in the community.
• Immunization uses the body’s natural defence mechanism – the immune response – to build resistance to specific infections. Nine diseases can be prevented by routine childhood immunization:
• Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis (polio), measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and hepatitis B.
• All of these diseases can cause severe complications and sometimes death.
  Immunization is given as an injection or, in the case of the polio vaccine, taken as drops by mouth. Immunization helps children stay healthy by preventing serious infections.

A global measles vaccination campaign between 2000 and 2017 resulted in an 80% drop in deaths from the disease and saved an estimated 21 million lives.

Immunization and vaccination

Technically, ‘vaccination’ is used to give a vaccine – getting the injection or swallowing the drops. Immunization is the term used to get the vaccine and become immune to the disease due to the vaccine. Most people use the terms ‘vaccination’ and ‘immunization ’interchangeably, but their meanings are not the same because immunity follows vaccination in most cases, but not all.

How does immunization work?

All forms of immunization work the same way. When someone is injected with or swallows a vaccine, their body produces an immune response like it would following exposure to a disease, but without the person getting the disease. If the person comes in contact with the disease in the future, the body can make an immune response fast enough to prevent the person from getting sick.

A major landmark study to be published by The Lancet reveals that global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives – or the equivalent of 6 lives every minute of every year – over the past 50 years. The vast majority of lives saved – 101 million – were those of infants.

What does a vaccine contain?

Some vaccines contain a minimal dose of a live but weakened form of a virus, some contain a minimal dose of killed or small parts of bacteria, and others include a small dose of a modified toxin produced by bacteria. Vaccines may also contain a small amount of preservative or an antibiotic to preserve the vaccine. Some vaccines may also contain a small amount of aluminium salt, which helps produce a better immune response.

How long do immunizations take to work?

In general, the normal immune response takes several weeks to work. This means protection from an infection will not occur immediately after immunization. Most immunizations need to be given several times to build long-lasting protection. A child who has been given only one or two doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP a) is only partially protected against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus and may become sick if exposed to these diseases. How long do immunizations last? The protective effect of immunizations is not always life-long. Some, like the tetanus vaccine, can last up to 30 years; a booster dose may be given after this time. Some immunizations, such as whooping cough, protect for about five years after an entire course.

Is everyone protected from disease by immunization?

Even when all vaccine doses have been given, not everyone is protected against the disease. Measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio and Hib vaccines protect more than 95% of children who have completed the course. Three doses of the whooping cough vaccine protect about 85% of children who have been immunized and will reduce the severity of the disease in the other 15% of children (who have also been immunized) if they do catch whooping cough. Booster doses are needed because immunity decreases over time. Three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine protect over 95% of children.

Why do children get so many immunizations?

Several immunizations are required in the first few years of a child’s life to protect the child against the most severe infections of childhood. The immune system in young children does not work as well as in older children and adults because it is still immature. Therefore, more doses of the vaccine are needed. In the first months of life, a baby is protected from most infections by antibodies from her or his mother, which are transferred to the baby during pregnancy. When these antibodies wear off, the baby is at risk of serious infections, so the first immunizations are given before these antibodies have gone.

What are the side effects of immunization?

Common side effects of immunization are redness and soreness at the site of injections and mild fever. While these symptoms may concern you and upset your child at the time, the benefit of immunization is protection from the disease. Paracetamol might be required to help ease the fever and soreness. For more information, refer to the Common side effects of immunization and what to do about them. Other side effects are rare, but a doctor should be consulted immediately if they occur.

Frequently asked questions:

Why is it important for children to be vaccinated?
Children need to be vaccinated to protect themselves from specific infectious diseases. Vaccinating your child is not legally required if you live in South Africa. You may, however, have a hard time getting your children into school if they haven’t had their immunisations. Most South African schools (state and private) ask for proof of immunisation when you enrol your kids.

Why should all children be vaccinated?
Vaccinations prevent the spread of disease within the community.

Where do I go to have my child vaccinated?
Your local clinics and community health centres in South Africa will provide free vaccinations for your child.

When should my child be vaccinated?
At birth, six weeks, ten weeks, fourteen weeks, nine months, eighteen months, six years and twelve years old.

Does my child need to have all the vaccinations?
Yes, your child must have all the vaccinations on the attached schedule.

Which diseases will the vaccinations protect my child from?
Tuberculosis, Polio, Rotavirus Gastroenteritis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough,
Haemophilus Influenza -type B, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal Infection, and Measles are the vaccinations that your child will be protected against.

DID YOU KNOW:

Pneumonia kills more children around the world than any other illness. Many caregivers, however, do not know the key symptoms – fast and difficult breathing – that indicate when a child needs immediate treatment

WHICH DISEASES DO CHILDREN GET VACCINATED AGAINST?

POLIO

1. Polio is caused by germs (polioviruses) that attack nerves, causing weakness or paralysis of the leg and/or arm. If severe, it may involve respiratory or breathing muscles.

The virus can cause permanent muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes death. In the majority of people, there are no symptoms. Most infected people will have mild symptoms, including headache, fever, sore throat, and vomiting.

MEASLES

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes a high fever and a rash and can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration, deafness, eye complications, pneumonia, brain damage and even death.

An infected child develops a runny nose, fever, hacking cough and red eyes. Tiny white spots appear inside the mouth, followed by a sore throat. A mildly itchy rash appears 3-5 days after symptoms start. Starting around the ears and spreading to the trunk, arms and legs, the rash begins as flat red areas that soon become raised. The child may develop a very high temperature of 40 ºC.

Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib)

Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) is a severe illness mainly affecting children under five. Hib causes infection in the respiratory tract, which can spread to other organs.

It spreads through the bloodstream and infects the joints, bones, lungs, skin, face, neck, eyes, urinary tract and other organs. The bacteria may cause two severe, often fatal infections: meningitis and epiglottitis. Death from Hib disease is common in children under the age of one.

HEPATITIS

 Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver, which can cause liver damage, liver cancer and death. Hepatitis B is also spread through contact with saliva, tears, breast milk, urine, vaginal fluid and semen.

A pregnant woman infected with hepatitis B can transmit the virus to her baby during birth.

WHOOPING COUGH

 Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It results in coughing that usually ends in a prolonged, high-pitched, deeply drawn breath ( the whoop).

It starts with a headache, fever, and cough. The strenuous coughing bouts make it hard for a child to eat, drink, or even breathe. The disease lasts at least six weeks.

TETANUS

Tetanus (lockjaw) occurs when a toxin produced by a tetanus germ from the soil enters a cut or wound.

The germ can cause muscle spasms, breathing and heart problems, and death. The chances of dying from this condition are very high.

DIPHTHERIA

Diphtheria is a dangerous upper respiratory tract bacterial disease that makes breathing difficult.

Children who survive diphtheria disease suffer permanent damage such as blindness, deafness and brain damage.

TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis (TB) Meningitis is a severe disease that can affect people of all ages.

Those who get TB suffer from coughing for a long time, chest pain, sweating at night, weight loss and even death if left untreated.

In young children, the TB germ may infect the brain, cause meningitis, enter the blood, and spread to other body parts. TB can kill young people. The BCG vaccine is the best protection for young children from diseases caused by TB germ.

ROTAVIRUS

Rotavirus Gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea in children and spreads quickly and easily.

The rotavirus affects nearly every child before their 5th birthday. Diarrhoea from rotavirus can quickly lead to dehydration. Dehydration can result in hospitalisation and even death for children who do not receive treatment in time.

Symptoms begin with fever and vomiting, followed by watery diarrhoea, typically lasting 5-7 days. The child becomes weak and listless from fluid loss. In South Africa, six children die per day from the rotavirus.

The vaccination to prevent the rotavirus is now available to children between 6 weeks – 24 months of age at your local clinic.