By Chioma Obinna

My friend’s second son, Ikechukwu, was born healthy and full of life. Ike had his first immunsation at the 6th week. On the second shot, he started screaming right away and continued to cry.

When they got home, he went to sleep. But continued to scream and cry for the next few days. After screaming and crying, he would fall into a deep sleep. When awake, he had a glassy, odd look in his eyes, as though he was not seeing. It was not okay and my friend was worried. Several times, when she checked her baby, he was stiff as a board with glaring eyes.

He had no expression on his face. She picked him up, but his head was floppy and unresponsive. Then, after a few minutes, as if nothing happened, he sat up. Sometimes, he exhibited jerking movements. We later got to know they were seizures.

On advice, she took the infant to a paediatrician who dismissed her worries. He is okay, just take him home, feed him normally and keep him well wrapped up. He will sleep it off.

My friend was not convinced, but went back home. Like magic, the strange behaviour vanished after a few weeks and have since not returned. Ike is now six and fast growing up into a healthy, intelligent boy. In several respects, immunisation is crucial to the survival of every child.

During the first five years of a child’s life, the risk of death from the most dangerous is high.  To ensure child survival and disease control through appropriate mother and child care, basic immunizations for common ailments are crucial.

Every parent wants to do what is best for their children and one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations. Immunisation programme has almost wiped out some dangerous illnesses.

Smallpox is an example of a disease that no longer exists anywhere in the world, and many other diseases are now almost extinct. However, even though many dangerous illnesses are now rare, they can spread again if not enough children are immunised.

Proper immunisations can save your child. With the advances in medical science,  a child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Immunisation is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals.

Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent.

Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

Immunisation protects future generations. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.