Darrick Robles Vaccination is one of the surest ways to prevent disease. A healthy immune system can fight off many infectious diseases. However, some infections are associated with complications, even if the immune system is fit. These can only be avoided by vaccination. An overview of the recommended vaccinations for babies and young children.
Infections are caused by bacteria and viruses, but also by protozoa and fungi. The consequences can range from mild colds to serious illnesses such as tetanus (lockjaw), polio (infantile paralysis) or meningitis. They are transmitted from person to person, via animals, through the air or objects such as doorknobs.
Vaccinations help contain serious infectious diseases . Due to the high vaccination rate in Germany, childhood diseases such as polio and measles have become very rare. Smallpox has even been considered eradicated since 1979, so there is no longer any need to be vaccinated against it.
Why are childhood vaccinations so important?
Children’s immune systems develop over the years. Children under the age of 2 often get sick: they get a respiratory infection around 8 to 12 times a year. Children develop their immunity in 2 ways : Innate immunity provides universal protection from birth. Acquired immunity only develops over time by reacting to pathogens and antigens and independently forming suitable antibodies. This also happens when they are vaccinated with weakened pathogens.
In Germany almost all parents decide to vaccinate their children. About 95% of the children who started school have received the most important basic immunizations . Health authorities from the WHO (World Health Organization) to the RKI (Robert Koch Institute) recommend vaccinations for all children . Experts agree that pandemics and epidemics can only be stopped effectively through vaccination.
The most important children’s vaccinations by age
6 weeks
From the 6th to the 12th week of life, babies should receive an oral vaccination against rotavirus . The vaccination series should be completed by the age of 16 to 22 weeks.
From 2 months: basic immunization
Babies get a 6-fold basic immunization from the age of 2 months. This includes vaccinations against
- Tetanus,
- Diphtheria,
- Whooping cough,
- Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Typ b),
- polio and
- Hepatitis B.
In addition, the babies get a first pneumococcal vaccination and the second rotavirus vaccination.
3 Fun
At 3 months, babies are vaccinated for the second time against the above diseases. The third rotavirus vaccination is also pending.
4 Fun
The third 6-fold basic immunization follows, as well as a second pneumococcal vaccination.
11 to 14 months
In addition to the fourth and last 6-fold basic immunization, children receive a third and final pneumococcal vaccination.
As soon as the children are 1 year old, they can be vaccinated against meningococci. Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella and against chickenpox (varicella) also starts at the age of 11-14 months.
15 to 23 months
Small children now receive the second measles, mumps and rubella vaccination (also: MMR vaccination) and another chickenpox vaccination. This completes the basic immunization.
5 to 16 years
Children between the ages of 5 and 6 receive a booster shot against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Between the ages of 9 and 16, there is a booster vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough as well as one against polio. They are also vaccinated against HPV (human papillomavirus) .
Which vaccination side effects are possible?
It is natural for the body to react to a vaccine. If a vaccination reaction occurs, it usually subsides after a few days. Vaccination reactions are an indication that the immune system is responding to the vaccine as intended. Possible are
- swelling, redness and pain at the injection site (more common),
- low-grade fever (less common),
- headache and body aches (less common),
- Restlessness (rare) and
- General malaise (less common).
All vaccines for children and babies have been thoroughly tested and are very well tolerated. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Drugs) checks the quality of each batch of vaccines produced before they are placed on the market.
Corona vaccination for children coming?
In Germany, none of the available vaccines for children are currently approved. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it has not yet been possible to adequately test the extent to which the Covid 19 vaccines are effective and safe in children and adolescents. For ethical reasons, early testing is not done in children. In addition, a corona infection in children is usually harmless – they either have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
However, at the end of April, BioNTech and Pfizer applied to the EMA (European Medicines Agency) for their vaccine to also be approved for 12 to 15 year olds. A clinical study in the USA has shown that the vaccine is very effective and well tolerated in this age group. So far, the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine was only approved for people aged 16 and over. Studies on younger children are already underway.
