Children vaccination

: Children vaccination

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Vaccination or `immunization ' is a process of introducing an agent (known as a `vaccine ) into the body for the purpose of producing active immunity (or protect the individual ) against a disease . Vaccination was initiated more than 100 years ago . The word `vaccination ' was first coined by Edward Jenner , who was the first to invent a vaccine for small pox . Louis Pasteur was the first to invent a vaccine for rabies Nowadays vaccines are available against several diseases such as measles , mumps , rubella , pertusis , typhoid , polio , tetanus , diphtheria infectious

hepatitis , hepatitis B , etc , and are known to reduce the occurrence of the disease . However , many have questioned the efficacy and the safety of many vaccination programs , as not many studies have been conducted to determine these criteria

During vaccination , a weak form of the disease-causing agent is introduced . The body 's defense mechanism (immune system ) gets stimulated as certain protective substances (known as `antibodies ) are produced against the disease-causing agent . The vaccine does not result in the disease itself , as modified forms or elements of the disease-causing agent are administered . As a result of vaccination several diseases such as smallpox , measles , mumps , rubella , polio , etc have nearly been eradicated in US

However , there are several controversies with vaccination . No vaccine is completely safe . Minor side-effects may sometimes occur , whereas major ones are extremely rare . As so many individuals are being vaccinated every year , instances of side-effects do exist . Some of the side-effects associated with vaccination include problems arising from faulty manufacture , allergic reactions , neurological problems , localized reaction at the injection site , autoimmune diss (such as Guillain-Barry syndrome and multiple sclerosis , etc . Sometimes the individual may develop low-grade fever , malaise and headache after the vaccination , which usually gets better within a day or two . Some people considered that the MMR vaccine is related to increased incidences of autism and bowel diss (especially Crohn 's disease . It may be because of the effect of a substance contained in the vaccine (known as `thiomersal . Controversy also existed regarding the Hepatitis B vaccine that it causes multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diss . However , studies conducted were rather inconclusive . There were also beliefs that Hepatitis B vaccine was related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS . However , studies have shown that since the inception of Hepatitis B vaccination to babies in 1991 , the incidences of SIDS have not increased . People have even argued that vaccination against hepatitis B should be delayed , as it was an STD (a risk only in adults . Incidences of the infection were as high as 25 , 000 infants a year in the US , before 1991 . There are only reports of minor side-effects (at the site of injection ) with the hepatitis B vaccine .Rota-shield was a vaccine that prevents a viral infection . It contained a modified form of a monkey virus and a human virus . However , the vaccine was associated with intestinal bleeding and intestinal intussusception , and was shortly removed from the market . Hence healthcare authorities began to closely monitor...