Lydia M is the young (22 years old) mother of a nine-month-old infant, her first child.

She lives in Spanish Town. Lydia is concerned that each time she takes her baby to the clinic for shots, he gets sick afterwards. He develops a fever and is very fussy and irritable. Lydia is breastfeeding and has heard that breast milk gives the baby protection against diseases. Lydia wants to know if she should put off immunisations, at least until after she stops breast- feeding. She knows of children who haven't had all their shots and they seem quite healthy to her.

Lifeline would like to reassure Lydia that a fever and some fussiness after obtaining immunisation is a common-enough occurrence in some children after obtaining their shots. This is a mild reaction to the vaccine and not a sign that they are sffering for any bad illness. Usually, one or two doses of a fever medication (e.g. panadol, brufer, cataflam), and the child is fully back to normal. The truth is all drugs and medicine and, therefore, all vaccines, may sometimes cause side effects, but most children obtain vaccination without any problem. The most common symptoms experienced after immunisation are a slight soreness over the injection site and sometimes a fever, which can last one or two days. These side effects are really minor when one considers the serious and life- threatening diseases which the vaccines are protecting the child against.

breastfeeding

Breastfeeding does, in fact, give the baby some protection against some illness, but the fact is that breast milk does not contain the necessary antibodies to give immunity to prevent most of the illness that vaccines protect the child from. The breast milk only helps the child while he or she is actually breastfeeding whereas the protection from vaccines lasts for several years.

disease

A few parents worry that the vaccine can actually cause the disease to occur in the child. This is untrue. Vaccines which contain killed viruses or bacteria cannot possibly give the disease to anyone. There are a few vaccine which contain live, but weakened, organisms, which, very rarely, can lead to illness. Our children are precious and these vaccines are all tested thoroughly for safety before they are approved for use.

The HB vaccine protects the young children against haemophilus influenza virus, which can cause meningitis, a serious life-threatening inflammation of the lining of the brain which can also cause severe brain damage. Polio drops protect the child against the polio virus which can cause death by paralysis.

There is a serious reason why each and every vaccine is given and none should be missed. It is because of these vaccines, and the protection they give, why many serious childhood diseases are now rare. The bacteria and viruses still exists within our communities but, because of vaccines, we are now immune to them.

Breastfeeding is a very good thing that mothers should persist with, for as long as possible, up to 18 months. Breast-fed babies are healthy, feel loved and secure, having formed a close bond with their mothers. Still,from the disease-prevention point of view, breast milk is no substitute for the childhood vaccines, as we struggle to use all means to keep our children healthy and free from serious, debilitating childhood diseases.

Write to:

Lifeline

PO Box 1731

Kgn 8

AJM