Immunization calendar

Which vaccines and when to take them
It would be foolhardy not to take whooping cough (pertussis) seriously. A disease that claims the life of one in every in every 200 babies born.

The safest remedy or safeguard against this dangerous contagious condition is immunization. According to Prof. Nimrod Bwibo of AMREF Directorate of Learning Systems, Kenya, infectious diseases cause much illness and death and may result in disabilities. The body is assisted by immunization to form chemical substances called antibodies which protect it by increasing body immunity against infections.

In Kenya, the body that co-ordinates immunization services is the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI). It intends to eradicate childhood immunisable diseases – Tuberculosis (TB), Poliomyelitis (Polio), Diphtheria, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Tetanus and Measles, which are among the highest causes of constant sickness and death among children below 5 years of age.

KEPI targets specific groups for immunization, namely:

• Infants (under one year)
• Children 1 – 5 years (under five)
• Women of child bearing age (15-45)
• Pregnant mothers

A combined vaccine against whooping cough and other diseases is available under the National immunization Schedule. Children need all of the following injections in order to be fully protected.

• Two, four and six months of age – Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
• Four years of age – Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio vaccine.

If your child is infected
Make sure the child has seen a doctor and is undergoing medication.

• Give nutritious food to prevent malnutrition.
• Breastfeeding or giving plenty of oral fluids immediately after a coughing attack will help prevent dehydration.
• Avoid giving sedatives or cough suppressants because they may make the illness worse.

Prevention

• Giving Pentavalent vaccine (immunization) to all children below 5 years of age.
• Send all suspected cases of the disease for treatment in the hospital.
• Separate children suffering from the disease in the course of their treatment.
• Give small and frequent feeds to the child to avoid vomiting and thus prevent malnutrition.

Vaccine descriptions

• HepB: Protects against hepatitis
• DTaP: A combined vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Hib: Protects against Haemophilus influenzae Type B
• PCV: Protects against pneumococcal disease
• Polio: Protects against polio, the vaccine is also known as IPV
• RV: Protects against infections caused by the Rotavirus
• Influenza: Protects against influenza (flu)
• MMR: Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)
• Varicella: Protects against varicella, also known as chickenpox
• HepA: Protects against hepatitis A

NOTE: If your child misses a shot, you don’t need to start over. Go back to your doctor for the next shot. The doctor will help you keep your child up-to-date on his or her vaccinations.

At Birth

• HepB

2 Months

• HepBl-2 months
• DTaP
• PCV
• HiB
• Polio
• RV

4 Months

• DTaP
• PCV
• HiB
• Polio
• RV

6 Months

• HepB 6-18 months
• DTaP
• PCV
•  HiB
• Polio 6-18 months
• RV
• (influenza)6 months through 18 yrs/ seasonal 2009 H1N1

12 Months

• MMR 12- 15 months
• PCV 12- 15 months
• HiB 12- 15 months
• Varicella 12- 15 months
• HepA 12- 23 months
• (influenza) 6 months through 18 yrs/ seasonal 2009 H1 N1

15 Months

• HepB
• (influenza) 6 months through 18 yrs/seasonal 2009 H1N1

END: BL 38/26-27