Vaccination - when to do?

Since May 2018, a new vaccination calendar has been introduced in Ukraine, recognized by European experts. Vaccination centers in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine operate in private and state specialized medical institutions. On the website of our clinic you can find information about the diseases against which vaccinations are directed, and specialists involved in vaccinating children. The answer to the question of where to vaccinate a child is now not difficult.

Rules for prescribing and conducting vaccinations for children in Kyiv

Vaccination is prescribed exclusively by a doctor who must examine the child. The specialist pays special attention to possible contraindications. Vaccination of children in Kyiv is based on the vaccination calendar.

Some (additional) vaccinations are recommended to be done unplanned.

Vaccination outside the mandatory calendar includes protection against very serious diseases, such as rotavirus infection, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, meningococcal infection, infection caused by the human papillomavirus. Vaccination against these infections is not included in the calendar as mandatory due to the fact that at present the state, unfortunately, cannot provide free vaccination against these infections to all children in the country. This does not make the infections against which vaccination is carried out less dangerous, and the vaccine more harmful. In the vast majority of European countries, vaccinations against all of the above infections are mandatory and are carried out at state expense. In our country, the issue of including some vaccinations (in particular, against rotavirus infection, pneumococcal infection, HPV) in the list of mandatory ones was actively considered before the start of the full-scale invasion, but this activity has now been suspended due to circumstances.

A mandatory point of proper vaccination is the use of vaccines according to the shelf life and strict adherence to the storage and transportation conditions of the material. The doctor who performs the vaccination is obliged to check the packaging labeling to prevent the introduction of unsuitable vaccine preparations. The appointment of children's vaccinations in Ukraine requires special attention from doctors.

Calendar dates for routine vaccinations of children under one year old

Vaccination is prescribed from birth to any adult age. The vaccination calendar for the first year of a child's life is especially busy.

Vaccination and vaccination of infants under one year old:

1. On the day of birth, in the absence of contraindications, the infant is vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine. The experience of using this vaccine in other countries has proven its effectiveness in preventing the disease. If the mother of the newborn is infected with hepatitis, the child is additionally administered immunoglobulin. Further revaccination is carried out according to the plan.
2. BCG vaccination in Ukraine begins on the third to fifth day of life. This rule is only waived in the case of a premature baby.
3. Two months is a particularly crucial period in a baby’s life. At this time, he or she should be vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus and diphtheria, polio, hemophilic infection, hepatitis B. Vaccinations against rotavirus infection, pneumococcal infection, and meningitis can also be given
4. At 4 months, children are revaccinated with the same vaccinations as at 2 months.
5. At six months of age, babies are revaccinated again against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and hepatitis B.
6. At the age of one year (12 months), it is time to receive protection against measles, rubella, and mumps – MMR.

Vaccinations that vaccination centers give to children over the age of one year

At one and a half years (18 months), it is time for the next revaccination with pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus toxoid (DTP) and polio vaccine.

Vaccination at 6 years old - a complex of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and the second revaccination of the MMR, which aims to consolidate the preventive effect against measles, mumps and rubella.

After a seven-year break, at 14 years old, adolescents are examined and vaccinated against polio.

16 years old - it is time to repeat the administration of vaccines that prevent the development of tetanus and diphtheria. These vaccinations are recommended to be done at 26 years old and then every ten years throughout life.

Starting from 9 years old, adolescents - girls and boys - can and should be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus in order to further protect them from oncological diseases caused by this virus.

Such a plan of preventive measures, if all the rules are followed, allows you to protect children and adults from dangerous infectious diseases that lead to serious consequences, and sometimes death.

Contraindications and features of the appointment

The vaccination procedure can cause complications in the form of temperature, allergic and other reactions, so vaccinations for children in Ukraine must be done in medical institutions, where doctors can observe young patients during the administration of the vaccine and respond to changes in the child's condition immediately after the procedure.

Unfortunately, not all children can get to the hospital or clinic in the required time. In this case, you can call a doctor or nurse at your place of residence. The developed rules for vaccination at home consist of special sanitary and hygienic requirements and features of maintaining documentation. It is important to maintain the required interval and not violate the established deadlines between vaccinations.

The list of diseases that have absolute or relative prohibitions for vaccination is quite extensive. In each individual case, permission for vaccination must be given by a doctor.

The main contraindications to vaccinations for children in Kyiv:

• complications of previously performed vaccinations that led to severe conditions and consequences;
• diseases with severe immunodeficiency;
• allergic diseases that occur with anaphylactic shock;
• acute stages of infections with high fever.

Remember - vaccination provides reliable immunity from a number of dangerous and even deadly diseases. Do not neglect it - get vaccinated according to age on time.

Article author - Anikeeva Tetyana Volodymyrivna

Article reviewer - Rykov Oleksiy Arkadievich