CHILD ‘S HEALTH CARE/IMMUNISATION: REACTIONS TO IMMUNISATION AND PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) VACCINE

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CHILD ‘S HEALTH CARE/IMMUNISATION: REACTIONS TO IMMUNISATION AND PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) VACCINE

REACTIONS TO IMMUNISATION

Vaccines are extremely safe and effective compounds which have been thoroughly tested. They are in use worldwide. As with all medicines, some people do have unwanted reactions. These are virtually never serious, and pass quickly. We stress again that the benefits of immunisation far outweigh any risks.

Some children have mild reactions to immunisation, such as local redness and swelling at the site of injection, or mild fever and irritability. To reduce fever and reactions, paracetamol should be given according to recommended doses prior to the immunisation and afterwards if necessary.

PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) VACCINE

A lot of controversy surrounds this vaccine, which is usually given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. Pertussis is a serious and sometimes fatal infection of the respiratory system. Although it mostly passes without complications, young children have been known to become extremely ill and even die from whooping cough. Babies do not acquire natural immunity from their mothers after birth, and are most vulnerable. Antibiotics do not provide effective treatment for the disease. The pertussis vaccine is extremely effective in preventing the disease and reducing its severity. The major controversy surrounding immunisation is related to concern that it may cause neurological damage.

Recent figures show a slightly higher incidence of short-lived, unpleasant side effects such as fever, crying and swelling and redness at the injection site but more serious reactions are extremely rare.

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