Many new parents have questions about why babies need to be vaccinated constantly after birth. Should they also get vaccinations at private clinics in addition to those provided free by the government? What happens if a vaccination is missed? The following will answer these questions for parents.
The benefits of routine vaccinations
The saying "prevention is better than cure" holds true, as a child's illness or infection can quickly become severe. Children have weaker immune systems, and with short incubation periods for most diseases, they can develop serious conditions within just a few days of falling ill. This can lead to lasting effects on their development and growth, and in some cases, can even be fatal.
Therefore, regular vaccinations allow children to develop antibodies, which can eliminate the virus in a short period of time even if they are unfortunately infected.
What vaccines should children have?
According to the "Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme" recommended by the Department of Health, children need to be vaccinated with different types of vaccines and boosters from birth to Primary 6 to prevent a total of eleven infectious diseases: tuberculosis, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella.
Are the free vaccines provided by the government sufficient?
The Hong Kong Government and Maternal and Child Health Centres offer the Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccine. However, the Government does not provide certain vaccines, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), influenza vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine.
Of these, almost every child becomes infected with rotavirus around the age of five. Dehydrating diarrhoea and vomiting can pose a considerable risk to young children, so parents are advised to have their children vaccinated early to avoid suffering.
To make things easier and reduce discomfort for children, many paediatric clinics now offer combined vaccines. If parents want to have their children vaccinated to boost their immunity, they can askPaediatricianEnquiry.
Child Paediatric Comprehensive Vaccination Plan
To prevent common illnesses and protect children's health, parents are advised to consider having their children vaccinated with the following immunisations, reducing the chance of facing the threat and suffering of disease. These include:
- Rotavirus oral vaccine
- New B-type meningococcal vaccine (Men-B)
- Meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
- Japanese encephalitis vaccine [B-encephalitis]
- Hepatitis A vaccine for children
These vaccines are not included in the "Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme" at the Maternal and Child Health Centre. The "Well Child Paediatric Vaccination Programme" offers comprehensive preventive health injections for infants and young children at different stages of growth and development. All vaccinations are administered by paediatric specialists, ensuring safety and reliability.
>>>Before each vaccination, the paediatrician will conduct a physical development check-up for the infant or toddler, and provide nursing and medical knowledge on infant and child care, helping parents alleviate their concerns about raising them.
