Immunizations are vaccines designed to prevent the spread of disease. While immunizations are quite common in the United States, they aren’t in other parts of the world. So, many of the diseases that your baby is vaccinated against still exist. The health problems that these diseases bring are worse than the vaccination itself. That is why there is this recommendation to get your baby vaccinated while they are young. There is often a lot of concern regarding the administration of immunizations. These concerns are very valid. So, here are a few things you can do to help mitigate some of your fears about your baby getting these shots.
If you have a history of allergies or your family has a history of allergies to certain foods or medications, make sure you bring this fact up to your pediatrician before the immunization shots are given. Your pediatrician may want to do an allergy test prior to the giving of these shots. This is especially true if your family is allergic to something like egg products. Go ahead and ask about the ingredients in the shot.
You do have the option of spreading out the timetable of when your baby is given the shots. It is perfectly fine to give them one shot and then schedule another appointment for later on for other shots. This way, your baby has time to recover between shots. It does mean multiple trips to the doctor. You do want to discuss this option with your pediatrician and relay your concerns about them getting a bunch of shots at once.
Reschedule the immunization appointments if your baby is already sick. They need time to recover their immune system before the shots are given. Delays in the immunization schedule are fine. Just be aware that some immunizations are required if you intend on putting your baby in daycare. If a delay is necessary, you will need to supply a note from the doctor to the daycare center regarding the delay.
These are a few things you can do to help you get through the immunization process. Make sure to check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about what an immunization is for or why your baby needs it. You should also check if you have concerns about the scheduling or any concerns about possible allergic reactions.