Vaccines for children are an important part of preventive care and well child visits. Knowing what to expect when your child gets vaccines can help you to feel more confident. A child doctor Birmingham is the best place to express any concerns.
The first thing you should know about vaccines is that they are safe. Millions of children have been treated with vaccines without any negative side effects. Of course, there is always the risk of side effects, but they are minimal and can usually be treated at home.
What to Expect at Your Child’s Pediatric Clinic Appointment
Vaccines for children are scheduled a long time in advance. They are given at specific intervals to ensure their effectiveness. Typically, vaccines are given at regularly scheduled well-child checkups. A nurse or a doctor can administer the injection.
After the injection is administered a small band aid will be placed over the site to protect it and help it heal. Usually the band aid can be removed a few hours later. The injection site may be a bit tender for a couple of days, an over the counter pain reliever can be used to help control the discomfort. The nurse or doctor is a great resource for additional information and to answer any questions that you have about the care for the injection site.
Some side effects like a fever are possible. Your doctor will advise what to do in case a fever or other signs of illness appear. A low-grade fever is very common after a child receives vaccinations.
Myths About Vaccinations
There are many myths when it comes to vaccines. One of the leading myths is that it is better to let your child experience common childhood diseases than it is to “artificially” immune them to them. The fact is that many childhood diseases are froth with very serious health consequences. For example, serious eye disorders, pneumonia and dehydration are all possible with a case of the measles.
Another common myth is that vaccines contain live strains of the disease that they are preventing. The truth is that most vaccines use dead strains of the disease. Developing a complete case of the illness is very likely not possible. Even in the case where live strains are used like in the case of chickenpox vaccines a very mild case of the illness may show up.
One of the critical mistakes’ parents make when the idea of vaccines is presented is to believe that since other children are receiving vaccines their child will be fine without them. The fact is another child’s immunity does not keep them from being carriers and passing the disease on to an unvaccinated child.