Children are particularly vulnerable to infections because their immune systems haven’t developed fully yet. As people get older, they are naturally exposed to more and more germs, so their bodies develop greater immunity over the years.
It is, therefore, best to get children vaccinated for various severe diseases as soon as they are eligible per your pediatrician’s advice. Some vaccines can be administered by the doctor when a baby is only 1 or 2 months old.
Let’s talk about how vaccines work, why it is in your child’s best interest to have them get their recommended vaccinations, and where you can go in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area for top-notch pediatric care for your child.
What Is a Vaccination?
Vaccines are substances that a doctor will administer to stimulate your body’s immune response against certain diseases. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some vaccines can be administered nasally using a spray, and some are administered orally.
Vaccinations are usually made with dead viruses or simulated viruses, and this way your immune system will create antibodies to recognize and fight the germ it is meant to fight. Although most bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, there are also a few bacterial vaccines such as for tetanus and pneumococcal infection.
How Does a Vaccine Work?
When bacteria or viruses enter your body, they hijack cells and multiply. When foreign pathogens do this successfully, that’s when you have an infection – such as influenza (the flu virus).
Vaccines help the body develop immunity against diseases so that you are never infected by those diseases or germs. By creating an immune response without causing the effects of an infection, your body knows how to fight diseases so they never cause harm to your body.
Vaccinations can sometimes induce minor symptoms such as a fever. These symptoms are your body’s way of responding to the vaccine and building immunity. You might still get infected with the disease even if your body has antibodies, but you’ll either have drastically reduced symptoms or none at all.
What Can Vaccination Prevent?
Vaccines help protect children and adults from a variety of potentially fatal diseases, including the following:
- Meningitis
- HPV (human papilloma virus)
- Chickenpox
- Influenza (the flu)
- Hib
- Measles
- Mumps
- Polio
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Whooping Cough
Immunizations against diseases are scheduled throughout childhood. Following a regular vaccination schedule will help your child to have the best resistance against childhood illnesses possible.
Do Vaccines Cause Side Effects in Children?
Vaccines can cause side effects in anyone, but most people only experience minor ones if any. These include a low-grade fever, temporary soreness at the injection site, temporary headaches, fatigue, or loss of appetite. However, it’s better to have temporary side effects than to risk permanent health problems or even death.
Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
A large study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that vaccines do not cause autism in children. The original study that ignited this debate decades ago has been retracted.
Pediatricians in Palm Harbor, Westchase, Trinity, and Lutz, Florida
If you are looking for a trusted pediatric center for your child, then look no further than Children’s Medical Center. Our medical team is composed of board-certified pediatricians who will provide your child with the finest care from birth to adulthood.
If you have any questions about us or would like to make an appointment, you can contact us at (727) 787-6335. You can see all of our convenient pediatrician locations here. We look forward to serving your family!
