Everything you need to know about vaccinations

The thought of taking your baby for shots might feel scary, especially if you're not a fan of needles. But regular vaccinations are crucial for keeping your baby healthy. 

Regular vaccinations play a crucial role in keeping your child infection-free. Dr Evan Shoul, an infectious disease specialist at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre Mediclinic, explains more.

In the past, diseases like smallpox and polio often caused death or paralysis, especially in children. Thankfully, vaccines have wiped out smallpox, and other diseases like measles are almost gone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines save around three million lives every year worldwide.

How vaccines work

Vaccines contain either the entire causative organism (germ), which is killed or weakened so it can’t cause disease, or harmless parts of the germ. These help your child's immune system respond like it would to a natural infection. “Vaccines prepare the body to fight disease. Many vaccines only need a single shot, but not all of them,” Dr Shoul explains.

Why does my child need boosters?

“Booster shots help prevent the return or contraction of certain diseases and are given when immunity wears off or when the first dose does not provide sufficient immunity,” Dr Shoul says. For example, the DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Babies get the first dose, with booster shots given at age six and again at 11 or 12 years.

Studies have also shown that two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine offer more protection than one.

Timing of vaccinations

South Africa has a comprehensive baby vaccination programme that is free at state clinics. Parents can also choose the private vaccination schedule, either fully or to add to the government programme. Children are vaccinated at birth, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 9 months, 18 months, 6 years, and 12 years old. Vaccines are available for diseases like polio, measles, and tuberculosis. It's never too late to vaccinate your child. Talk to your doctor, who will guide you on the best schedule for any missed vaccines.

For the full vaccination schedule click here.

A word on flu

"The influenza vaccine that is available in South Africa – which is 'Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV)' – is recommended for children from six months of age," says Dr Graham Jones, a specialist paediatrician at Mediclinic Sandton. He adds that two doses of vaccine (administered one month apart) are recommended in the first year of vaccination.