Hospitals have become an integral part of our lives. It offers treatment for people with illness. However, it also provides immunization to prevent certain illnesses for good. The immunization is a process of boosting an individual’s immune system to resist infection and illness. On this 24th to 30th April, as we celebrate World Immunization Week, we list out 7 crucial immunization for every child out there.

1. BCG Vaccine

Abbreviated for Bacillus Chalmette Guerin, the BCG vaccine is a preventive measure against tuberculosis. Usually, it is the first immunization that is administrated right after birth, though it can be done at any point within 12 months of the birth.

2. Polio Vaccine

Polio vaccine fights against the possibility of polio and is given as an oral dose. It is administered multiple times to children below 5 years of old. In India, it is given free of cost by Government in India in several hospitals and healthcare facilities.

3. DPT Vaccine

DPT provides protection against three diseases, namely- Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus. There are altogether 5 doses meant to be administrated at the age of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, between 15 to 18 months and last one between 4 to 6 years.

4. Measles Vaccine

Measles vaccine is a mandatory immunization that mitigates the risks of measles, an extremely contagious viral infection that causes diarrhoea, and pneumonia. It is a subcutaneously administrated vaccine that is injected just beneath the skin when the child is 9 months old.

5. Hib Vaccine

Hib vaccine mitigates the risks of meningitis, a disease that infects the child’s spinal cord and brain. This vaccine is administrated four times, at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 months.

6. MMR Vaccine

MMR vaccine stands for all three diseases it provides protection against, namely, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. It is an administration in two dosages, first between 12 to 15 months and the second one between 4 to 6 years.

7. Rotavirus Vaccine

This vaccine mitigates the possibility of rotavirus infection that can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Usually, the dose is administrated at the age of 4 and 6 months old.

Apart from these crucial vaccines, few others are recommended as well, such as Influenza vaccine, Hepatitis vaccine, and Chickenpox vaccine (also known as the Varicella vaccine) to mitigate the possibility of chicken pox. Though many parents skip chicken pox vaccine as the body develops immunity after getting infected once. However, these additional vaccines are also recommended for children, especially to the ones with a weak immune system.