Vaccination against meningococcus
Meningococcus is one of the main causes of meningitis in babies, along with pneumococcus. Disease with meningococcus can have serious consequences. Therefore, vaccination is recommended from the age of 2 years.
6-fold vaccination
A vaccination with a sixfold vaccine, also called hexavalent vaccine, serves as basic immunization against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B. This vaccination is usually given in the first year of life and requires four injections. According to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute, these should be given in the second, third and fourth month and at the end of the first year of life.
If the vaccination schedule is followed, immunity can be achieved in over 90% of people. The main advantages of such a combination vaccination are the significantly reduced number of injections and cost reduction. In addition, a higher vaccination rate is generally achieved due to the low number of vaccination appointments.
The side effects of this 6-fold vaccination are rather harmless besides local reactions like pain, redness or swelling. A slight fever may develop over the next few days, but this is usually self-limiting. Since this vaccination is a dead vaccine, it cannot cause a corresponding infectious disease.
Vaccination for rhinitis and diarrhoea
Should the child take antibiotics at the time of an upcoming vaccination, this is also not a problem. If the child has severe diarrhea or a severe cold, consulting the doctor is certainly not a mistake, you are on the safe side. As soon as high fever comes into play, the vaccination date should be postponed because the immune system is already struggling hard and does not need another opponent.
Furthermore, in the case of a serious defect in the child’s immune system, vaccination is not advisable. The same applies if the immune system is suppressed by drugs such as cortisone or if chemotherapeutic agents are taken. In this case, the dosage of the respective medication plays a decisive role, so that the doctor should be consulted in any case.
There are also concerns about vaccination if a vaccine has already caused serious problems. In this case, too, it is advisable to talk to a pediatrician you trust. If a vaccination has to be postponed, it should be made up as soon as possible.
