Ludhiana: Child vaccines delayed due to lockdown? Don’t be in a rush

TNN | Updated: Apr 15, 2020, 11:47 IST

LUDHIANA: As the situation intensifies, dilemma grips parents regarding the issue of the vaccination in children, as most city hospitals have deferred that process to avoid crowding in the premises. The step has been taken to keep the virus at bay, as it has often been repeated that children are more susceptible to the virus.
However, the postponement has brought out anxiety in parents. Most residents are taking serious precautions to keep children safe and healthy. But when it comes to vaccinations, parents are worried about the uncertainty.
Chandigarh Road resident Riddhima Verma shares her experience, “I am the mother of a 9-month-old daughter whose vaccination is due. In the current situation, it is not possible to take her to the hospital where we get her vaccinated every time. I asked the paediatrician regarding the pending doses, and she advised us to postpone it for the time being. The postponement does trouble me, but taking her out to another clinic scares me more. Also, the hospital concerned has closed the vaccination process as of now. So, we have decided to wait and watch.”
Another anxious mother, Pakhowal Road resident Shewta Jain, shares her story. “My daughter is only two months old. There are many vaccinations that are pending. As of now, we have postponed them, but I am worried that if the lockdown extends more than a month, then what will happen? But no matter what happens, I am not taking my newborn out. I seriously hope things get better soon.”
Although there are many clinics in the city where the vaccination process is functional, experts believe that might not be the best thing to do, as children below five years are most vulnerable to infection. A visit to a hospital can put not only the child’s life in jeopardy, but once he or she comes back, he might transmit the virus to the elderly at home.
CMCH professor of paediatrics Dr Monika Sharma explains, “It is a difficult time, but parents need not worry regarding the vaccination. There is no vaccination done in the hospital, as we don’t want unnecessary crowding. Also, the younger the child, more the chances of infection. One shouldn’t be worried regarding the vaccinations, as a slight delay in vaccination would not harm the immunity of the child, but exposing the child to a hospital would be putting them in grave danger.”
She added, “The situation is dynamic, so it is decided by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics to postpone the vaccination process by a month. Every vaccine comes with a timeline. Most of the vaccines in the first year of the child can be deferred up to two months, after which there is a risk factor.”
Dr Priyanka Gupta, senior consultant and head, department of paediatrics (hematology oncology), of a city-based hospital shares “Parents need not be alarmed when a vaccine is mentioned for a particular age, for example at 6 months. It means that particular vaccine cannot be given before 6 months, but can be deferred. These circumstances are not normal, so taking the child out would be exposing him or her to danger. As of now, vaccination should be postponed.”
She added, “Talking about uncertainty regarding BCG vaccination, people need to stop panicking, as BCG does not have a booster dose. Also, it would not be wrong to say that the BCG is an immunomodulator, but its positive affect on Covid-19 is still something under the scanner.”
Many reports have surfaced, which suggest that countries that administered BCG vaccine, including India, have had a less intense effect of the pandemic.
IMMUNISATION SCHEDULE
On Birth: BCG, OPVo, Hepatitis B1
2 Months: (DTwP1/DTaP1, Rotaravirus, OPV2/IPV2, Hib1, Hepatitis B2) can be deferred for 2 to 3 months.
Note: All vaccinations are time-bound.