Individual vaccination calendar for a child – who should use it?

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An individual vaccination schedule for a child is a schedule of vaccines administered to a patient, which is planned and written by a doctor, usually a pediatrician. An individual vaccination schedule is usually prepared for those children who have missed a vaccine in the vaccination program because of an illness or a decision or neglect of their parents. Who should use the individual vaccination calendar?

What is an individual immunization calendar for a child?

The individual vaccination schedule is a program of immunization for a given child. The calendar is arranged by the doctor in a situation where the implementation of the current vaccination schedule specified in the Preventive Vaccination Program has been disrupted.

In most children, an individual vaccination schedule is drawn up on the basis of the current framework calendar, which is announced annually. However, in some children who experienced a delay in vaccination, an individual calendar is prepared, which to some extent does not coincide with the generally applicable program. The individual vaccination schedule includes compulsory, recommended and other vaccinations indicated by a doctor.

What vaccinations are compulsory? Check: Mandatory vaccinations – everything you need to know

Who should decide on an individual vaccination calendar for a child?

An individual vaccination schedule for a child is written in the event of any delay in vaccination in relation to the framework immunization program. It is worth remembering that the decision to vaccinate a child is made by the pediatrician, while the parents decide which vaccinations will be given to the child.

What should you know about the vaccination calendar? Read: Vaccination calendar – check the changes for 2019

Reasons for planning an individual vaccination schedule

Creating an individual child’s vaccination schedule is, as a rule, a consequence of disturbances in the original vaccination schedule. A child may not have received a particular vaccine for a variety of reasons, but the most common reasons are medical reasons and parental decision or neglect.

Health causes may be temporary or permanent. Contraindications for giving the vaccine to a child are:

1. a severe anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, or a severe anaphylactic reaction to any component of the vaccine;
2. severe or congenital immunodeficiency;
3. complications in the perinatal period;
4. chronic diseases;
5. severe bacterial infections.

Many parents refuse to vaccinate their child in cases where there are no contraindications for its implementation. Such cases include:

1. mild and acute infections such as upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and dermatitis;
2. prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal jaundice;
3. nervous system diseases with a stable, non-progressive course, e.g. cerebral palsy;
4. a family history that suggests a family history of seizures;
5. taking antibiotics, as well as local or inhaled steroid therapy;
6. chronic diseases of the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver;
7. malnutrition;
8. allergy, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis;
9. contact with an infectious disease.

Parental decisions or neglect are the second most frequent cause of disturbances in the vaccination schedule. It is not uncommon for parents to report that they know better what is good for their child and make adjustments to the immunization schedule themselves. It also happens that some vaccinations are postponed or that they do not come to the appointments.

A separate case is for children who return from another country where they were vaccinated according to the rules prevailing abroad. In addition, parents may not fulfill their parental responsibilities and simply neglect or forget about vaccination dates.

Some parents are concerned about immunization and its consequences. A concern that parents often talk about is vaccine reactions. Unfortunately, the knowledge on which parents base their conclusions is often unverified and its sources unreliable. Moreover, many parents are convinced that vaccinations are ineffective and even harmful. In the translations of parents of children who have not been regularly vaccinated, there are also arguments that there is no need to administer a given vaccine due to the decreasing incidence of a given disease entity.

Unfortunately, this attitude of parents usually works to the detriment of the child. And it is in such cases that the task of the pediatrician is to create an individual vaccination schedule for the child.

What should I know about vaccinations? Check: Vaccination Program

Individual vaccination schedule – where to start?

The pediatrician who is approached by parents or legal guardians with a child who has not been regularly vaccinated must first of all determine the reasons for the delay in the Immunization Program. If they are due to the negligence of the parents, appropriate intervention is required. Similarly, if the parents persist in their views or beliefs, the pediatrician should clearly and clearly explain the importance of immunization for their child.

In the next step, the doctor should carefully analyze the documentation of the child’s previous vaccinations, as well as past diseases, treatments or medications. Only after this analysis can the doctor proceed to arrange an individual vaccination schedule for the child.

Individual vaccination calendar – required documents

The doctor who creates an individual vaccination schedule must have verified knowledge about the child’s health. When going to a doctor’s appointment to arrange an individual vaccination schedule, please take the complete documentation with you. Before drawing up an individual vaccination calendar, the doctor must read the child’s vaccination card and health book. It is also important that you take your vaccination certificate with you.

If parents or legal guardians do not have vaccination records, the vaccines are considered not to have been administered. Unfortunately, the pediatrician cannot resist the verbal assurances of parents. Before the doctor determines the individual vaccination schedule, he checks the current state of the child’s health. That is why current research is very important. In the event of their absence, the doctor may order basic diagnostics.

What are combination vaccines? Check: 6in1 vaccinations – why do parents choose them?

Who arranges an individual vaccination plan for a child?

An individual vaccination plan for a child is always and unconditionally determined by the doctor who takes care of the child, i.e. the pediatrician. The individual vaccination schedule is created by agreement and consent of parents. The purpose of planning an individual vaccination calendar is to complete the vaccinations included in the commonly binding vaccination calendar as soon as possible. This applies not only to compulsory but also recommended vaccines.

Individual vaccination schedule and the child’s needs

When creating a child’s individual immunization schedule, the doctor must always consider their needs and all the accompanying factors. The age of the child is very important in planning an individual vaccination schedule. Children up to the age of two are given the most vaccines. Therefore, it is during this period that disturbances in the vaccination schedule most often occur.

When planning, the doctor also pays special attention to the vaccinations performed so far and the dates of their administration. Possible contraindications, epidemiology and existing and justified indications for recommended vaccines are important. An example of a recommended vaccine is the rotavirus vaccination. The indication for its implementation is the child’s stay in the hospital or planning the child’s attendance at a nursery or kindergarten.

What is the DTP vaccine? Read: DTP vaccine – characteristics, vaccination schedule, side effects

Individual calendar and general vaccination rules

The creation of an individual vaccination calendar does not differ from the generally functioning vaccination rules. It is worth remembering that interrupting the vaccination course does not require repeating the vaccination. In addition, it is important that the child can be given several vaccines at one time in distant places on the body. In the case of creating an individual vaccination calendar, combined vaccines are used whenever possible. Additionally, when planning the dates of vaccinations, the intervals between successive doses of the same vaccine should not be shortened.

Why is immunization important to my baby?

Vaccinations are the safest and most effective method of protecting a child against many dangerous infectious diseases. Modern vaccines are well tolerated by the child’s body and very rarely cause side effects or complications.

It is worth remembering that protective vaccines inhibit the development and incubation of germs. This significantly reduces the epidemic of infectious diseases and infections. Vaccinations often save lives, and in most cases protect children against the negative and burdensome effects of infectious diseases.

What is worth remembering when vaccinating children? Check: Mandatory vaccinations for children – what should you remember?

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