While immunisation coverage in the first year of life is high in India, the rate tends to drop after the first birthday. Hence, a significant number of children in the country remain partially vaccinated. It is essential for children to receive key vaccinations even after their first birthday to strengthen their immunity against serious vaccine preventable diseases, ensuring a happy and healthy future.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends 7 vaccinations for children aged 1 to 2 years: two doses of chickenpox and hepatitis A, a second dose of meningitis # and MMR, booster doses of PCV and DTP Hib IPV and an annual dose of flu. These 7 essential vaccinations protect against 14 diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and HiB infection.
Speaking on the need for these essential vaccinations, Dr Anurag Sharma, MBBS, MD Paediatrics, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, Aditya Hospital, Jaipur said, “In my practice, I often see that there is a drop in vaccination rates after the child’s first birthday. This can put the children at risk of serious complications of vaccine-preventable diseases. Parents need to complete their children’s immunisation schedule and ensure that their children between 1 and 2 years of age receive the 7 vaccinations. recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics to ensure their children. Consult your doctor and get your children vaccinated”.
Even after the age of 1, children are vulnerable to infectious diseases due to their developing immune systems, which increases their risk of infection and complications. These complications can disrupt their developmental milestones and formative experiences. Research has shown that incomplete immunisation may also lead to a poorer nutritional status. This can further exacerbate their susceptibility to infections anddelay recovery. Moreover, childhood illnesses canposesignificant challenges for parents as they need
to arrange financial support for medical care and increase the likelihood of other family members falling ill due to potential exposure.
The recommended vaccinations have proved to effectively control preventable infections, prevent epidemics, eliminate diseases, and reduce the economic burden on families and healthcare systems. Parents are encouraged to consult their paediatricians to adhere to the immunisation schedule and prioritise these 7 vaccinations to ensure their children's health, happiness, and future well-being.