Your Health Q& A:Do i really needed this sharp?

World Health Organization or WHO defines immunization as the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. The vaccine stimulates the body's own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. 

What is immunity means?

Immunity means the capacity of one's body known as antibodies that can produce a protective immune response which is possible with vaccination. In a vaccinated individual, the immune response is active those infections which subsequently freed the person from the disease. 

What are the types of a vaccine?

The 5 basics types of vaccines are live attenuated, toxoid, subunit, conjugate and inactivated. The characteristics of live and inactivated vaccines are different and these characteristics determine how the vaccines are used. Live attenuated vaccines are produced by modifying a disease-producing(wild) virus

or bacterium in a laboratory.

How vaccines are made?

Generally, vaccines are made by taking viruses or bacteria and weakening them so that they cant reproduce themselves very well or so that they can't replicate at all.

Do all vaccines provide life long protection?

Not exactly and depending on the vaccines. For instances, measles does give life long but pneumococcal for 5 years, mumps for 10 years and rubella for 20 years.

Is this vaccine a form of medications?

Yes, it is,which help to trains the body's immune system so that it can fight disease it has not come into contact before. Vaccines are designed to prevent disease rather than treat disease once you have caught it.

What happens if I choose not to give vaccination to my child?

Vaccinations aim to prevent you or your child from getting diseases for which there are often no medical treatments. These illnesses can result in serious complications and even death.

Is vaccination same as a cure?

No, vaccination protects you from infection whereas cure help to combat the disease.

What is the schedule for vaccination for myself and my kids?

The type of vaccination and duration depends or varies among adults and kids. Kindly refer the table below, but this applies in Malaysia only. You may observe some variation among other countries depending on the endemics and medical practices.

Can multiple vaccination shot at once if I have forgotten to bring my kids on a date?

Possible in certain circumstances but advisable to not defer them as multiple vaccines needed.

What are the possible side effects of vaccination?

Rare side effects but may present such as pain at the injection site, rashes, headache, fever, fatigue.

Can I administrate vaccine on my own?

Yes if you are a health care personnel otherwise big NO! Because they are trained to administer vaccines receive comprehensive,competency-based training on vaccine administration policies and procedures before administering vaccines.

What vaccines are not advised to give together?

Live vaccines by an oral route such as Polio, Typhoid or Rotavirus.

Life or death of a young child depends on whether he or she is born in a country where vaccines are available or not!

Disclaimer: The information given above is from a qualified medical doctor aim to educate public in general regarding the illness but it is advisable to seek medical attention in the event of a serious condition or for proper advice.