Importance of Immunizing a Child

Remember the old adage – “Prevention is better than Cure”? Well, immunizing your child is just that. There are certain diseases prevalent worldwide, especially in India, which can lead to dire consequences – even death. Diseases such as measles, diphtheria, mumps, polio, whooping cough, tetanus, rubella or German measles, Haemophilus influenza and rotavirus can all be prevented with vaccinations.

For instance, “Small Pox”, one of the most disfiguring diseases has been wiped off the face of our planet, thanks to the invention of an excellent vaccine. Immunizing your child helps not only protect your child effectively, but also prevent all the diseases named above.

Vaccines contain antigens that help the body produce antibodies to fight the disease causing germ. True, a vaccine contains in part the viruses or bacteria that cause the disease, but the immune system fights and destroys or weakens the viruses/bacteria, so that your children do not become sick. Children develop immunity through vaccinations and thus we, as parents, can help protect our children from contracting the actual disease.

Here are a few more facts why immunization is important.

1. A newborn baby is immune to many diseases as the baby has got the necessary antibodies from mother. The immunity, however, is effective only for the duration of the first year of life.
2. Prior to the advent of vaccinations, many children died from diseases such as measles, polio, and whooping cough. An unvaccinated child exposed to any of these diseases is not usually strong enough to fight the disease. Immunization with proper and timely vaccinations gives the baby better protection and a better fighting chance against these harmful diseases.
3. Diseases caused by failure to administer vaccinations lead to frequent visits to the Paediatrician, hospitalization, loss of time, dislocation of work, avoidable medical bills and in some cases premature death.
4. Immunization of every child assures a healthy and wealthy future of the nation, as health is the real wealth.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801