Important Vaccinations for Children Above 1 Year
In this Article
As a parent, you work hard to give your child the best of everything. You conduct thorough research on baby gates, infant car seats, and the latest developmental toys and books for your little one. On the health front, you have your pediatrician’s number on speed dial, the medicine or first aid box stocked up, and also ensure you don’t miss out on regular checkups and vaccination appointments. After all, vaccination is one of the best ways to protect our child against vaccine preventable diseases.
But many times, after first-year vaccinations, the second-year vaccinations and booster doses are not taken as per schedules. It may even be missed at times. It’s essential to know that vaccinations are recommended even beyond this age.
This article will look at the different vaccinations administered to children over a year old.
Why Is It Important to Vaccinate Children Above 1 Year of Age?
Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease. Baby’s immune system is continuing to be developed completely uptill 2 years of age. There are certain diseases that can still infect the baby in second year of life such as Meningococcal Disease, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Influenza. These are serious diseases which may lead to prolonged disabilities, take a financial toll due to medical bills, lost time at work or long-term disability care. For these diseases, vaccines are not covered in first year and hence its essential for parents to keep a track of vaccination schedule even after 1st birthday of the baby to protect the growth and future of the baby.
Apart from new vaccinations, to provide additional protection booster doses are required which should be given to babies second year onwards. For more information please do consult your paediatrician.
11 Important Vaccinations That Should Be Given to Children Above 1 Year
Diseases and vaccines that children above 1 year should receive:
|
Age of Vaccination
|
Disease | Brief | Route of Transmission | Symptoms |
Vaccination Available *
|
| 12 months | Hepatitis A | Caused by Hepatitis A virus. It is highly contagious | Spreads through ingestion of contaminated food or water | Jaundice, dark-coloured urine, nausea, fatigue, stomach pain |
Vaccination is available; consult doctor for schedule
|
| 15 months – first dose | Varicella / Chickenpox | Highly contagious, caused by varicella – zoster-virus. Life-threatening, especially in babies, adults, pregnant women | Spreads through direct contact with the infected individual | Rashes that turn into itchy, fluid-filled blisters and eventually turn in scabs |
2 dose schedule is recommended
|
| 24 months | Meningococcal Disease | It is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, affects the meninges and is life-threatening if left untreated | Spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions like saliva or mucus | 0-8 hours symptoms are like the common cold and flu. It later progresses rapidly into a stiff neck, light sensitivity, fever, and nausea. |
Single dose vaccine#
|
| 6 months – 5 years of age | Influenza | Caused by Swine Flu (H1N1) and 3 other flu strains | Air-borne disease | Cold, cough, fever, runny nose, itchy eyes, body ache |
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended
|
| 9-12 years of age | Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (Tdap Vaccine) | Diphtheria is a respiratory disease Tetanus causes the tightening of jaw muscles. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough |
Diphtheria and Pertussis are both air-borne diseases Tetanus spreads when bacterial spores enter the body through deep cuts. Spores usually reside in soil, manure, iron rust, etc |
Diphtheria – Fever, swollen neck, thick grey coating lining nose or throat Pertussis – Cold, cough, mild fever, and difficulty in breathing Tetanus – jaw cramping, muscle stiffness, seizures, fever and sweating |
Tdap Vaccine – Tetanus toxoid and reduced quantity Diphtheria & Acellular Pertussis Vaccine
|
| 9 years onwards | Cervical Cancer | Cancer of the cervix caused due to Human Papillomavirus | Transmits via sexual intercourse or close skin contact with the infected | No tests / immediate symptoms HPV screening is done after the age of 30 in females only. Some may develop genital warts. |
2 dose schedule for girls 9-14 years of age
3 dose schedule for < 15-year-old girls |
* – Information about Vaccination mentioned above is based on recommendations received from Health Experts. For any further information, please consult your infant’s paediatrician.
# – Meningococcal Vaccine (A, C, W, Y) can be given in 2 dose schedules below 1 year
List of booster vaccinations that are essential and provide additional protection to babies securing their healthy future:
|
Age of Vaccination
|
Disease | Brief | Route of Transmission | Symptoms |
Vaccination Available *
|
| 15 months – second dose | Measles, Mumps & Rubella | Measles are small red spots on the entire skin, highly contagious Mumps is swelling of salivary glands due to viral infection Rubella is caused by a virus; pinkish rashes start appearing across the face and body |
All 3 are air-borne diseases | Measles – small red spots breakout on the entire body with fever, headache Mumps – Puffiness of neck, cheeks, eyes, and entire face due to swelling of salivary glands Rubella – low-grade fever with rashes across the body |
2 dose schedule is recommended
|
| 15 months – booster dose | Pneumococcal Disease | Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections | Spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions like saliva or mucus | Fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and chest pain |
Vaccination available in a 3 + 1 booster dose schedule
|
| 16-18 months – booster dose | Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis | Diphtheria is a respiratory disease Tetanus causes the tightening of jaw muscles. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough |
Diphtheria and Pertussis are both air-borne diseases Tetanus spreads when bacterial spores enter the body through deep cuts. Spores usually reside in soil, manure, iron rust, etc |
Diphtheria – Fever, swollen neck, thick grey coating lining nose or throat Pertussis – Cold, cough, mild fever, and difficulty in breathing Tetanus – jaw cramping, muscle stiffness, seizures, fever and sweating |
Combination of 3 vaccines – DTP Vaccine is available. Recommended in a 3 + 1 booster dose schedule
|
| 16-18 months – booster dose | Hib: Hemophilus influenzae type B | Infects the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can also cause a severe infection of the blood | Air-borne disease | Pneumonia, infection of blood or infection of meningitis (membrane covering the brain and spinal cord) |
Recommended in a 3 + 1 booster dose schedule
|
| 16-18 months – IPV booster dose | Polio | Caused by Polio virus and can infect the spinal cord, limbs, or any part of the body. It may also cause paralysis. | Air-borne disease | Muscle tenderness, floppy and loose muscles, fever, sore throat, weakness fatigue |
IPV is recommended in a 3 + 1 booster dose schedule
|
| 18 months – booster dose | Hepatitis A | Caused by Hepatitis A virus. It is highly contagious. | Spreads through ingestion of contaminated food or water | Jaundice, dark-coloured urine, nausea, fatigue, stomach pain |
Vaccination is available. Consult a doctor for schedule
|
* – Information about Vaccination mentioned above is based on recommendations received from Health Experts. For any further information, please consult your infant’s paediatrician.
How to Prepare Your Child for Vaccination?
- Talk to your child about vaccination in a manner suitable to their age and temperament.
- Make sure to keep a positive tone and use simple sentences. Answer your child’s queries and explain what the vaccination is for
- Prepare a special bag for your child to carry to the doctor’s clinic on vaccination day with their favourite toy or book. This will help them cope with the stress better in a new environment.
When Should Your Child Not Get Vaccinated?
There are a few situations where your child should wait or may not get vaccinated. These include:
- Having suffered a bad reaction after the first vaccination dose
- Being ill with something more severe than a cold
- Having convulsions or sudden jerky body movements, which the vaccination could have possibly caused
In such cases, it’s essential to consult your paediatrician for any further information
After Vaccination Care for Children
- Encourage your child to move the arm or leg where they received the injection
- Place a cold cloth or ice pack on the injection site, and provide comfort to them.
- Make sure your child takes adequate rest.
Since children need to be given different vaccinations, it is helpful to maintain a checklist of all the vaccinations that need to be administered and at which age. This will help you stay on schedule and keep your little one healthy and safe.
Please consult your infant’s paediatrician for any further information. To learn more about maintaining vaccination schedules, click here.
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Disclaimer: Issued in public interest by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited. Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, India.
Information appearing in this material is for general awareness only. Nothing contained in this material constitutes medical advice. Please consult your doctor for any medical queries, any question or concern you may have regarding your condition. The disease list indicated for vaccination is not complete, please consult your doctor for the complete vaccination schedule
NP-IN-ABX-OGM-220082, DoP Nov 2022
References:
https://www.myvaccinationhub.in/en/vaccination-schedule
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/visit/before-during-after-shots.html
https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/get-vaccinated/for-parents/five-reasons/index.html
