The theory behind immunisation is simple- you inoculate a healthy person with an antibody or an infection to force an immune response in the body that is specific to the disease. According to statistics about one to ten of every hundred people who are immunised can have side effects- which is nothing but a body’s response to the infection.
Most side effects are mild and last a couple of days before subsiding. The response in children remains more or less similar. Most effective vaccines have fewer side effects than the other ones but that does not come without a price. According to a report by the New York Times, since 1986 the cost of inoculating a child has steeply risen from $100 to $2186. The steep cost of prevention can be hardly managed by insurers who reimburse poorly or not at all, the other solution is investing in an effective Medical Discount Plan for Miami Residents.
The process of vaccinating a child can be smoothened and their side effects can be managed by taking care of some basic requirements of the body. In this article, we discuss just that.
Usual side effects of vaccines
- Fever- a temperature over 38.5 degrees Celsius.
- Swelling, red patch or tenderness near the area where the needle was inserted
- Babies may feel fidgety and uneasy or may feel sleepy
- Sometimes, a red hard lump may be formed at the site of the injection which is not a reason to worry as it dissipates within a few weeks or a couple of months without any treatment.
Vaccination of babies and children usually are given according to a schedule that scientifically determines the best time for inoculation. Some of these vaccines can be expensive and if you are looking for verified pediatricians in South Florida who provide treatments at a discount then look no further than the Medical Discount Plan for Miami Residents by Multimed USA. Their customised plans offer great discounts on the treatment offered by some of the most well-known pediatricians of South Florida.
Managing the common side effects of Vaccines
- Children should be given extra fluids to drink (avoid too much sugar that can lead to dental health problems)
- They should be dressed in loose comfortable clothes if they complain of feeling hot
- Apply cold wet cloth on the injection site to help with the soreness and inflammation
- Paracetamol is generally not advised, it can be given if fever or pain persists at the site of injection. This should not be done without the recommendation of a pediatrician or general practitioner.
If however, you believe the side effects have worsened or extreme fever has developed, then you must visit the doctor immediately. You must also watch out for rare side effects like:
Anaphylaxis: an allergic reaction to the vaccine. This can be improved if adequate treatment is administered quickly.
Febrile Seizure: febrile seizure or convulsions occur when the fever rises up quickly. This is an occurrence in children between 6 months to five years.
Bowel Blockage: This occurs due to the rotavirus vaccine within seven days of administering the first and second dose.
Coma, long term seizures, permanent brain damage: Rarest of the rare side effects of the DTaP vaccine. Similar to any medicine there are very rare chances of a severe allergic reaction, injury or death with the use of vaccines.
In case you encounter any of these reactions, please immediately see a doctor to advise you on the steps ahead. Just as any other medicine intake, the time after vaccination has to be monitored closely for any anomaly in the body reactions of the child.