A parent's guide to infant immunizations - Athens Daily Review

As parents, you protect your baby from a number of things, from sharp corners in your home to sunburns at the park. You also protect their health by keeping up with doctor’s appointments, which sometimes involve receiving vaccinations. Children, from infancy to adulthood, need certain vaccines that are proven to prevent them from contracting potentially deadly diseases.

While some parents might be avoiding the doctor’s office because of concerns about COVID-19, it is important to stay on schedule with those vaccinations, says Dr. Tiffany Hill, a pediatrician with UT Health East Texas Physicians.

Pediatric offices at UT Health East Texas remain open and offer a safe way to ensure your child stays on track with their immunizations. We are not only screening all caregivers prior to each shift, we are screening anyone who comes into our clinics. We continue proper distancing, hand sanitizing, masks and additional cleaning measures at our facilities.

Dr. Hill offers some tips for parents who are hoping to learn more about the vaccination process.

Keep On Schedule

Like your baby’s naps, vaccines are arranged on a specific schedule. “The on-time administration of vaccines is the most effective way to prevent what in the past has been severe and fatal childhood illnesses,” says Dr. Hill. “Vaccines are timed to protect infants and children from diseases that occur in early childhood.  Delaying any vaccine past the recommended administration date greatly increases the time that a child remains susceptible to the disease.” The amount of shots may seem like a lot, but this schedule is the only evidence-based schedule that has been tested and approved.

“Changing the schedule for fear of ‘overwhelming the immune response’ simply is not true,” says Dr. Hill. “The number of immunogenic proteins in vaccines today is significantly smaller than the number in naturally circulating organisms that infected children before universal vaccinations.”

To stay on schedule, refer to the CDC’s vaccination schedule. Your pediatrician also should provide a schedule as well as an immunization card that is updated with each vaccine given.

Know the Reactions

Children can have reactions to vaccines just like adults do. Talk to your pediatrician about the side effects prior to the administration so you know what to expect. Dr. Hill shared that the most common adverse reactions include redness or swelling at injection site and low-grade fever one to two days after the vaccine. Since some vaccinations can have side effects seven to 10 days later, it’s important parents are educated about each individual vaccine.

Knowing what side effects are typical will help you know when something is out of the ordinary. Dr. Hill explains when a parent should seek help. “Parents need to call immediately or be seen if the child has a high fever, is extremely irritable or lethargic, is having difficulty breathing or has a seizure. These more serious side effects are extremely uncommon with the present, more purified vaccines that are given today.”

Keep Positive

Parents often worry about the pain caused by receiving a shot, which can then affect how their child feels about vaccinations. Help create a positive environment for your child by following some tips.

Try these techniques during your child’s next vaccination appointment:

• Sing or tell a story.

• Bring out their favorite toy.

• Hold your child in your lap.

• Point out interesting things around the room.

• Make eye contact and smile.

If you are nursing, breastfeeding during a vaccination can be a great way to distract your baby and keep them comforted and calm. You may also ask your physician about topical anesthetics.

Stay Informed

It’s all right if you have a bunch of questions about your child’s health when it comes to vaccines. Your pediatrician is there as a resource to answer all your questions and address your concerns. If you have all the information and can feel comfortable, then you’re able to help make your child’s vaccination process as easy as possible.

To keep up with the vaccination schedule and read about vaccination tips, visit the CDC’s parent vaccination site: cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html  

To find a UT Health pediatrician and make an appointment, call 903-531-8890.

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