Immunoprophylaxis has been around for over 200 years. It is the most effective in fighting infections. Vaccinations have been able to control infections that used to cause periodic outbreaks and epidemics. Vaccinations give people artificial immunity and protect them from dangerous diseases.
The vaccination calendar in Ukraine is close to that of the U.S. and European countries. Our calendar requires vaccination against 10 especially dangerous infections (tuberculosis, hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hemophilus influenza, measles, rubella, mumps), while the U.S. offers protection against 16 infections.
Why are “special” children not vaccinated?
Today in our country, most children with diseases of the nervous system remain unvaccinated. This is due to the total distrust of parents to vaccination in general, and vaccine manufacturers in particular, lack of confidence in the medical professionals who conduct vaccinations, as well as the conditions in which immunobiological preparations are stored. Sometimes the medical professionals themselves, due to a lack of knowledge, are unsure of the need to vaccinate such children and tell parents about their doubts, and they refuse to vaccinate them.
There are so-called pseudopreventive indications for vaccination. Often these are “nonexistent diseases” or conditions that are no longer contraindications to vaccination, or certain family history data. Such pseudo- contraindications include:
- Perinatal encephalopathy;
- Hydrocephalus;
- Epipyndromes;
- Epilepsy
- Stable neurological pathology;
- Autism spectrum disorders;
- Congenital malformations;
- Substitution therapy;
- Family history of allergies
- Family history of adverse reactions
- Prematurity or underweight at birth.
However, the question arises as to whether children with diseases of the nervous system are not entitled to protection from tuberculosis or diphtheria, measles, and other dangerous infectious diseases. Why is a girl with cerebral palsy or epilepsy, who grows up and goes to a nail salon, not entitled to protection from hepatitis B. And the hepatitis vaccine is called the first anti-cancer vaccine. Can children with significant health problems, constantly visiting hospitals, rehabilitation centers, in different cities of Ukraine and abroad can be allowed to have children’s infections and not to worry about complications.
Often the opponents of immunoprophylaxis link the occurrence of diseases in children with the time of vaccination. But there are more than 300 diseases that can occur in children after 2 to 3 months of life, and the absence or presence of vaccination does not affect their course. Children start being vaccinated from the first day of life. This is necessary for their protection and safety. So, yes, illness can occur after, but not because of vaccination.
Children with neurological or psychomotor disorders should get all age-appropriate vaccinations as outlined in the Vaccination Calendar, and additional flu and pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended.
The article was prepared by the medical director of
Olga ZELENINA, Medical Director of St. John’s Center