This topic is not without controversy because there are people who argue that there is nothing wrong with not vaccinating babies and children, but I want to ask And what would happen if no one vaccinated their children or babies? What would happen if adults or older people didn't get vaccinated? Surely there would be more diseases And people who decide not to get vaccinated, nor their children, would be more exposed to these diseases, something that as long as the people around them get vaccinated, they will not have problems.
I have also heard that it is not necessary to vaccinate children against diseases that have already disappeared, but still They are missing because we are vaccinatedDon't you think so? It's not that they've disappeared; it's that if we stopped vaccinating, some diseases would likely return to us.
Vaccines help us keep our society healthy and that many infectious and dangerous diseases no longer endanger people's lives. But those viruses that cause diseases (and some very dangerous) continue to exist among us, something that is prevented thanks to vaccination, but that can be transmitted to people who have not been vaccinated against them.
Many people think that diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, type B meningitis, among other diseases, no longer exist, and that's why they shouldn't vaccinate their children. But this is completely false; these diseases almost no longer exist because children are vaccinated against them (in more developed countries), but as I've told you, They could return if vaccinations were stopped., that's why the government keeps giving money for these vaccines.
Do you really think the state would pay money for vaccines if it could spare them? It's obvious that if they think they should be given to children, it's because it's necessary to protect our population.
Lies told about vaccines
One day at the clinic, while waiting to get my son vaccinated, I ran into several self-confident mothers who said their children weren't going to be vaccinated because it wasn't necessary. Talking to them, I realized that they had not received complete information about vaccinating their children and their decision was made after talking with some mothers in the park, something that certainly gives me the impression that they simply lacked information and they made a hasty decision.
But after encountering this type of situation, I feel obliged to tell you about some things that are being talked about out there and that simply they are not trueI hope you read it carefully so that from now on you can discern what is true and what is not.
They shouldn't be vaccinated so young
Why exactly? The age of vaccination depends on the age of the child, it is true that some vaccines are not effective if given too early because the baby's immune system does not respond, but if they are given too late, the child's risk of contracting potential diseases increases. That is why the vaccination schedule stipulates the correct age in which the child's body can tolerate vaccines, something that, with a few weeks' variation, the vaccination schedule for children around the world is very similar.
It is bad to put so many vaccines together
Before taking out the vaccines to give them to people, they are made very rigorous studies For years, both in animals and adult volunteers, to test their efficacy and safety. Studies are vital and must be conducted thoroughly before administering vaccines to children, so this claim is false. If it were bad, it simply wouldn't be done. Combination vaccines and co-administration are used for convenience, for savings and for save the child from further trouble, without increasing the risk.
Reasons why you should vaccinate your child
The main reason why a child should be vaccinated is to protect your health and that of othersThis is why most parents opt for vaccination. What can better protect a baby from serious childhood illnesses than a vaccine that has been developed for decades to provide the best protection?
Vaccines can protect your child, That's why I decided to vaccinate mine.Serious illnesses still exist, and I want to give you some reasons why:
- You will keep your child protected and healthy from illness.
- You will be able to help reduce and eliminate diseases that can be prevented thanks to vaccines.
- Serious diseases still exist, by vaccinating we can prevent them from coming back and avoid possible outbreaks.
- The diseases that you think don't exist in other countries do exist (measles for example), They can spread by plane travelIf your child is vaccinated, it will not affect him.
- You protect those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, strengthening herd immunity.
What is a vaccination schedule?
One way to protect your child from serious illnesses is to follow the child vaccination scheduleThis schedule indicates which vaccines are given at each age from birth and may vary depending on where you live, the health condition of the child and the availability of vaccines. Often, some vaccines can be administered in combination to reduce the number of injections. If you have any questions, talk to your pediatrician to adapt the regimen to your child.
Childhood vaccination schedule by age
The large age groups help you anticipate what will be administered at each visit. Below is a practical, informative, and no closed dates, which your pediatrician will adjust according to the case.
Birth to 2 months
- Hepatitis B (HB): ideally within the first 24 hours if there is risk (surrogate/unknown mother), along with specific immunoglobulinIf there is no risk, it is started in the first few months within the combined vaccine.
- Protection against RSV: two complementary options according to local recommendations: maternal vaccination during pregnancy or administration to the baby of a monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) at the start of the VRS season.
2 to 6 months
- DTaP, Hib, IPV: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae and polio, usually in combination vaccine at 2 and 4 months; in some guidelines also at 6 months.
- Pneumococcus (VNC): 2+1 scheme (2 and 4 months, with booster later) or 3+1 (2, 4, 6 months and booster), depending on the preparation.
- Rotavirus (RV): vacuna oral administration from 6 weeks onwards; two or three doses depending on the brand, respecting minimum intervals and ending within the first few months.
- Meningococcus B (MenB): doses at 2 and 4 months in usual schedules.
11 to 15 months
- Combined DTaP/IPV/Hib booster: at 11 months, consolidating the primary vaccination.
- Pneumococcus: dose of reinforcement at 11 months.
- Triple viral (MMR): measles, mumps and rubella, first dose in the second year of life.
- Chickenpox: first dose around 15 months (acceptable from 12 years of age), except for tetraviral regimen as indicated.
- Meningococcus B and C / ACWY: MenB reinforcement and, depending on the community, MenC or MenACWY in the second year of life.
3 to 6 years
- MMR and Chickenpox: second dose between 3 and 4 years (in some places the vaccine is used tetraviral for this dose).
- DTPa-VPI Booster: 6 years, especially in those who followed the 2+1 regimen in infants.
Adolescence
- MenACWY: a dose in preadolescence/adolescence with rescue in unvaccinated people.
- HPV: recommended in girls and boys, ideally before the start of sexual relations; in current guidelines it may be with single dose at young ages according to local indication and clinical situation.
- Tdpa/Td: reinforcements in the pre/adolescence to maintain protection against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
Vaccines for annual or seasonal administration
- Flu: recommended every season from 6 months. Children under 9 years of age without previous doses begin with two separate doses.
- COVID-19: maintained as seasonal dose and priority in risk groups; some immunosuppressed children may require enhanced regimens.
Additional vaccinations, travel, and special circumstances
- Dengue: in endemic areas and in children who have already passed infection, there are specific schemes at certain ages.
- Meningococcus B in adolescents: can be initiate or reinforce in adolescence, with 2 separate dose schedules (MenB vaccines are not interchangeable each other).
- International travel: can be brought forward SRP in infants, administer Hepatitis A and reinforce MenACWY if the destination presents greater risk.
- Pneumococcus in children over 2 years of age at risk: schemes with conjugate vaccines with a greater number of serotypes and, if not available, polysaccharides according to clinical indication.
- Polio in adults: a booster dose if there is occupational exposure or travel to risk areas.
- Mpox (monkeypox): indicated in high-risk adults with a 2-dose schedule.
Risk groups and rescue schedules
Some children require adaptations from the schedule due to chronic illnesses, immunosuppressive treatments, or specific conditions (asplenia, complement deficiency, HIV, cochlear implants, heart disease, or chronic lung disease, among others). In these cases, the pediatrician will adjust:
- Vaccine type: prioritizing broad-spectrum serotype conjugates when possible.
- Number of doses and boosters: can be extended to maintain appropriate protective titles.
- Minimum intervals: are scrupulously respected for do not restart series: dose given, dose that counts.
If the child is late for vaccination, series already started are not restarted. A accelerated schedule respecting ages and minimum intervals between doses to complete it safely and effectively.
Vaccine Types and Safety: The Essentials for a Confident Decision
Vaccines can be of live attenuated viruses/bacteria (e.g., MMR or chickenpox), inactivated (injectable influenza, inactivated polio), toxoids (diphtheria, tetanus), conjugated (pneumococcus, Hib, meningococcus) or mRNA (some against COVID-19). They all share one goal: stimulate the immune system to recognize the pathogen without causing disease.
In clinical practice, safety is supported by rigorous trials and continuous pharmacovigilance. Side effects are usually mild and transient (pain at the injection site, low-grade fever). Severe reactions are very rare and the benefit far outweighs the risks. In addition, the co-administration and combination vaccines reduce punctures without compromising safety or immunogenicity.
Pregnancy and newborn protection
Protecting your baby starts before birth. It is recommended that every pregnancy be protected. tdpa to transfer antibodies against whooping cough to the newborn. flu vaccination and in front of COVID-19 are indicated according to current recommendations to protect mother and baby. In the case of RSV, the strategy may include maternal vaccination in the third trimester or administration to the infant of nirsevimab at the beginning of the season, according to Public Health criteria.
Do you have more questions?
If you want to know more about vaccines and want to find out about the vaccination schedules in your city, do not hesitate to go to your pediatrician to inform you about everything you need. I also advise you to inform yourself about the severity of diseases that you can vaccinate, so you can decide if you really want to avoid a shot for your child but instead, that he or she may be at risk of suffering from any of these diseases.
Likewise, for your peace of mind, I also advise you to look for information about vaccine safety, including any side effects they may have. Your pediatrician can also tell you about this.
You can also ask if all children can be vaccinated equally. There are some exceptions like children who suffer allergies or who have some type of treatment due to some disease that cannot be vaccinated because of having a weak immune system.
For a child to have the full benefit of vaccines, It is essential that they receive all doses according to the childhood vaccination schedule. Not receiving them would mean that the child is exposed to serious illnesses.
To expand the technical information and see schemes by age and risk groups, you can consult the official document of the Ministry of Health:
Families often ask if it's safe to receive multiple vaccines on the same day, whether it's better to wait until their child is completely healthy, or whether vaccines can "overwhelm" their immune system. Studies show that coadministration is safe, that a mild cold does not force delay and that the immune system of babies manages millions of antigens every day, so vaccines represent a very small burden in comparison.
The available evidence supports that a well-planned schedule decreases hospitalizations, complications, and long-term consequences. Following up with your pediatrician, adjusting for risk groups, and maintaining seasonal vaccinations (flu and COVID-19 when appropriate) is the best strategy for protect your child and those around him.