Dr Sandip Jain answers some common questions on immunization

Immunization has been the most important public health intervention in history saving millions of lives and preventing disease in hundreds of millions of cases. Small pox is totally eradicated and serious infections like polio, diphtheria and measles are largely under control all due to vaccination. We, as parents have many questions on vaccination, here are some common queries parents have regarding vaccination.

How do vaccines work?:Whenever you catch a germ, it multiplies in your body. The germ makes you sick. The body produces antibodies to help kill the germ. This antibody also gets stored in the system to help you the next time if you catch the same germ and prevents you from falling sick. This is called immunity. Vaccines contain weakened or killed germ which do make you sick but help your body to produce antibodies to fight against the germ in the future so that you do not fall ill.

Will my kid’s immune system weaken if he relies too much on vaccine?:Absolutely no! The vaccines help your child make antibodies against germs the similar way as natural infection would do. But natural infection will make you child unwell, vaccines are a safer way to develop immunity against infectious diseases.

Do I need to complete all courses for a particular vaccine especially when my child is well?:The number of doses for particular vaccine is designed in a way to give long-lasting immunity. Some vaccines are effective life long with a single shot, others need repeated doses as boosters to remind the body to store enough memory. The number of doses for any particular vaccine depends on the ability of the vaccine to generate immune response and duration it would protect without being given extra doses.

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