Top 10 Crucial Vaccines for Safeguarding Your Child's Health

Hepatitis B is a disease causing acute and chronic inflammation and necrosis of liver cells. The disease is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is highly contagious. Vietnam has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B in the world, especially among children and pregnant women. Therefore, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has included the hepatitis B vaccine in the national expanded immunization program. Infants within the first 24 hours should be vaccinated against hepatitis B to protect their health and prevent diseases transmitted by the hepatitis B virus. Currently, the number of people infected with the hepatitis B virus is at an alarming level. Although the disease is not as dangerous as cancer, it significantly affects the long-term health of your child. Therefore, parents should not overlook this vaccination for their children. The hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to newborns within 24 hours, and a similar dose should be given when the child is 1-2 months old. Additionally, one-third of the dose should be administered when the child is 6-18 months old. This vaccine helps your child resist the transmission of the hepatitis B virus through the bloodstream and body fluids... After vaccination, your child may experience mild fever and pain at the injection site, which are natural reactions. However, if the child shows any unusual symptoms, immediate medical attention is required.

Every year, at least 1 million people worldwide die from diseases related to the liver. Nearly one-third of the world's population is infected with the hepatitis B virus, including about 350-400 million people with chronic liver disease. In Vietnam, the rate of hepatitis B virus infection is between 10-20%, with the majority being pregnant women (10-16%) and young children (2-6%). Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to child, through fluid or blood from wounds. Children are very active, often running, jumping, and playing, making them prone to falling and bleeding, thus spreading the hepatitis B virus to each other. Infants infected with hepatitis B have a high risk of developing chronic diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, up to 90%. Among them, the mortality rate is very high, accounting for about 25%. Children should be vaccinated against hepatitis B as early as possible. If vaccinated within 24 hours after birth, the child's immunity to the hepatitis B virus transmitted from the mother is about 85-90%. If vaccinated later, the level of immunity gradually decreases each day. By the seventh day, it is almost ineffective. Vaccinating against hepatitis B within 24 hours after birth not only helps the child prevent the risk of transmitting the hepatitis B virus from the mother but also protects the child from the hepatitis B virus in the surrounding environment. Currently, there is no specific treatment for hepatitis B. Therefore, vaccination against hepatitis B for both adults and young children is the most effective way to prevent and control the disease outbreak.

Chickenpox (also known as varicella) is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus (VZV). The disease can affect individuals of all ages, with children being the most susceptible. The incubation period averages from 14-16 days (some may show symptoms earlier, around 10 days, or later, exceeding 20 days). Chickenpox is transmitted directly through respiratory droplets (talking, coughing, sneezing) when in contact with an infected person. Additionally, the disease can spread indirectly through the patient's personal items such as clothing, towels, or bed linens. In the initial stages of infection, individuals may experience symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, or loss of appetite. Subsequently, red round spots (rashes) will appear within 12-24 hours. These rashes will progress into fluid-filled blisters, possibly covering the entire body or scattered across. On average, there will be 100-500 blisters. In typical cases, chickenpox lasts from 5-10 days without complications. The rashes will gradually dry, peel, and leave no scars if there are no complications. However, if secondary bacterial infection of the blisters occurs, it may result in scarring.

Chickenpox can lead to dangerous complications such as meningitis, bleeding, sepsis, blister infections, cellulitis, hepatitis, and pneumonia. In some cases, it can be fatal if not treated promptly. To date, the most effective prevention method for chickenpox is vaccination. The disease can spread rapidly, leaving severe consequences and complications for children. Therefore, parents need to vaccinate their children against chickenpox. The first dose should be administered when the child is 12-15 months old. The second dose is recommended when the child is 4-6 years old. Parents should ensure their children receive vaccinations according to the schedule and complete the doses to protect their child's health. Do not vaccinate against chickenpox for children allergic to the vaccine or any of its components, immunocompromised individuals, those with abnormal blood conditions, cancer, HIV infection, undergoing cancer therapy, or suffering from active tuberculosis. Therefore, when taking a child for chickenpox vaccination, parents should clearly inform the vaccination staff about the child's allergy history and illnesses. Vaccination against chickenpox should be postponed if the child is in a condition of high fever, acute infectious diseases, has purulent skin inflammation, is suffering from a progressive chronic illness (such as pulmonary tuberculosis, nephritis), or has just recovered from a severe illness.

Firstly, diphtheria is considered a dangerous infectious disease. The bacterial reservoir for diphtheria is found in both infected individuals and carriers. This is both a reservoir and a source of disease transmission. If the bacterial toxin spreads throughout the body, the disease will undergo complex changes. Many patients experience extremely serious complications such as heart damage, kidney damage, etc. Since the diphtheria vaccine appeared, the number of cases has significantly decreased. Diphtheria is a disease caused by bacteria, turning the child's throat gray and black. Tetanus develops due to the tetanus bacterium Clostridium tetani. The spores of tetanus bacteria are found in many places in soil, dust, etc., attacking the human body through open wounds. The bacteria affect the nervous system. The initial symptoms of tetanus are jaw stiffness. In adults, there is sore jaw fatigue, difficulty opening the mouth. In infants, there is a tight closure of the mouth, pulling back every time they cry and cannot breastfeed. As the disease progresses, the next symptoms are stiffness (the body bends like a burden) and muscle spasms, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, sweating, fever. Patients with tetanus have a very high risk of death. In addition, humans often contract whooping cough. Whooping cough is a rapidly spreading infectious disease, commonly characterized by prolonged coughing. The disease is particularly dangerous in children under 12 months old. Children show symptoms of coughing, which worsen and become longer and more frequent over time. Children may experience cyanosis due to lack of oxygen during coughing. Red eyes, vomiting, and exhaustion often follow after coughing.

Overall, these are all dangerous infectious diseases that cause many deaths. Until the tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough vaccine appeared, the incidence of the disease decreased significantly and is well controlled. Vaccination for these diseases is also combined into a comprehensive shot. A vaccination schedule consists of a total of 5 shots, given when the child is 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 months old, from 15-18 months old, and the last shot is from 4-6 years old. If you wait until the child is 4 years old to vaccinate, the fifth dose will be ineffective. Therefore, parents remember your child's vaccination schedule to ensure the best health for your child. After vaccination, we may experience some side effects such as mild fever, pain, or redness at the injection site. These are common side effects of the tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough vaccine that you don't need to worry too much about. If you notice unusual symptoms such as high fever, severe allergies, take your child to the nearest medical facility for examination.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13), also known as PCV13, helps protect your child from 13 types of bacteria that cause health problems such as meningitis, ear infections, bloodstream infections, etc. The PCV13 vaccine consists of capsule-shaped polysaccharides of pneumococcus covalently linked (conjugated) to proteins. The formulas of PCV13 contain different types of capsules combined with non-toxic proteins similar to diphtheria toxin. Infants and young children do not respond to polysaccharide antigens, but binding to this protein allows the developing immune system to recognize and process polysaccharide antigens leading to antibody production. Pneumococcal bacterial infection is capable of spreading from person to person through close contact. This disease can cause ear infections and may also lead to more severe infections in the lungs (pneumonia), blood (sepsis), meninges, and spinal cord (meningitis). Pneumonia due to pneumococcal bacteria is most common in adults. Meningitis due to pneumococcal bacteria can cause deafness and brain damage, and 1 in 10 children affected by this disease may die.

Anyone can get pneumococcal bacterial infection, but children under 2 years old are at the highest risk. Therefore, this vaccine should be given in full with 4 doses. The first dose is given when the child is 2 months old, the second dose when the child is 4 months old, the third dose when the child is 6 months old. And the last dose when the child is from 12-15 months old. When your child is vaccinated with this type of vaccine, they may experience some side effects. The most common issues reported with PCV13 vary by age and dose in the vaccination series. The most common issues reported in children are: About half of the children become sleepy after vaccination, temporarily lose their appetite, or have redness or pain at the injection site. If there are any unusual symptoms, take your child to a medical center for examination.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a primarily common disease in young children, with those under 2 years old being at the highest risk of infection. After 2 years, children begin to develop immunity through natural exposure to the disease. Symptoms may take from 2 to 4 days to appear after bacterial infection. Depending on the location in the body where the bacteria attack, the disease causes different forms of illness: Children with meningitis will show symptoms of stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, poor appetite, high fever, and irritability. Children with pneumonia may experience high fever, difficulty breathing, and respiratory failure. Children with epiglottitis may exhibit symptoms of difficulty breathing, high fever, watery diarrhea, and restlessness. Without proper treatment, pneumonia, epiglottitis, and meningitis can lead to death. Vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine is recommended as part of the immunization program for young children.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a bacterium that causes meningitis in children. It is particularly dangerous if a child under 5 years old develops inflammation around the meninges and spinal cord. The Hib vaccine regimen includes 3 basic doses at 2, 3, and 4 months of age, with a booster dose at 18 months. The Hib vaccine can be given as a combination vaccine to prevent other diseases in the same shot, reducing the number of shots and minimizing pain for the child. It is important for the child to complete the entire Hib vaccine regimen as recommended to help protect against infection. Please consult with your doctor regarding your individual and family situation. Some side effects may occur after vaccination, such as high fever and seizures; bring your child to the nearest health facility for examination.

This is one of the most crucial vaccinations in a child's early years. When a child contracts polio, they may experience body paralysis, with a very high risk of death. Polio vaccination completely eliminates the polio virus from the body. The polio virus enters the human body through the digestive system, invading the central nervous system and causing damage to motor nerve cells. Due to its high transmission capability, the virus can lead to the risk of an epidemic outbreak. The highest-risk individuals for polio infection are those who have not been vaccinated against polio. Pregnant women, the elderly, children, especially those under 5 years old, and individuals with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable. Untreatable polio leaves many post-paralytic complications. Treatment aims to alleviate the patient's symptoms, and it may include physical therapy and portable breathing machines for respiratory support. The only measure to prevent and stop polio is through proactive immune system development by drinking or vaccinating children under 1 year old against polio. This is also one of the important vaccines included in the expanded immunization program of the Ministry of Health since 2010.

In 1952, the polio vaccine was widely introduced worldwide. Ten years later, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) was successfully produced in Vietnam. The widespread use of this type of vaccine has reduced the incidence and death rates due to polio, eradicated outbreaks, and helped Vietnam be recognized as a country that successfully eliminated this dangerous disease in 2000. Currently, in Vietnam, there are two types of polio vaccines. Oral polio vaccine (OPV): Contains weakened live polio virus, stimulating the body to produce immunity. This immunity helps protect the body from the invasion of the virus. Injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), containing killed (processed) polio virus, has the function of stimulating the body to create disease-preventing immunity. IPV is recommended for use as it has a higher safety profile compared to OPV. Nowadays, injectable polio vaccines are often produced in combination with other dangerous infectious diseases. The use of combination polio vaccines brings many benefits to patients. For children, this vaccine is administered at 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and a booster shot at 4-6 years old. Parents should take note of these vaccination schedules for their children.

Hepatitis A virus infection is a severe liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Children infected with hepatitis A virus often do not show symptoms, making the virus easily transmissible without precaution. Parents, caregivers... if not immune, can become infected with the virus and develop hepatitis A. Hepatitis A virus is one of the viruses that cause liver inflammation in humans, belonging to the Picornaviridae family, successfully isolated in 1973. Humans are known to be the sole source of the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A virus infection is usually acute (symptoms appear for a certain period) and does not progress to chronic. Acute liver failure may occur, but the rate is less than 1% of total cases. After recovery, patients gain lifelong immunity (or can actively create immunity to prevent disease through hepatitis A vaccination. Children under 6 years old usually have no symptoms. Older children and adults may feel extremely tired. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks after virus infection. Symptoms may include: Fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice, yellowing of the skin, and yellowing of the eyes. Older children, adolescents, and adults may experience prolonged fatigue, and symptoms can last up to 6 months. Currently, there is no specific treatment for hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool of infected individuals, and the virus transmission route is through feces, mouth (the virus easily spreads when there is direct contact between people. Due to the consumption of contaminated food and water, even cooked food can transmit the hepatitis A virus if the temperature used in processing is not high enough to kill the virus or if the food is contaminated after cooking). Clean-looking objects may carry the virus and easily transmit it to many people. Hepatitis A virus transmission from mother to fetus has not been recorded. Hepatitis A virus enters the baby through contaminated food, drink. This disease damages the baby's liver, causing symptoms such as: Yellow skin, loss of appetite, fatigue... Therefore, parents should vaccinate their children against hepatitis A. The first dose when the child is 12-23 months old. The second dose is administered 6 months after the first dose.

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can actively build immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella with a high efficacy of up to 95%. Measles is caused by the measles virus, spreading through respiratory droplets and secretions. It poses risks of middle ear infection, bronchopneumonia, encephalitis, and more. Symptoms include fever, initial facial rash spreading across the body, runny nose, cough, and red eyes. Mumps, caused by the mumps virus, primarily spreads through respiratory droplets, forming outbreaks in communities. Common clinical signs include inflammation of the parotid salivary glands, fever, and painful swelling of the jaw glands. Complications can lead to orchitis and oophoritis, risking male infertility. Rubella, caused by the rubella virus, presents similar but milder symptoms than measles. For pregnant women, rubella poses a significant danger, potentially causing severe birth defects.

Measles, mumps, and rubella are all highly contagious respiratory infections, carrying the risk of severe complications, especially in infants and pregnant women. Effective prevention methods include various vaccines, with the MMR vaccine (3-in-1) being a popular choice for reducing the number of shots to just one. The vaccine is derived from the Edmonston-Zagreb strain for measles, L-Z strain for mumps, and Wistar RA strain for rubella. The viruses are cultured on human diploid cells (HDC) and chicken embryo fibroblasts from specific pathogen-free eggs. Meeting WHO standards, the MMR vaccine safeguards children's health, making it crucial for parents to vaccinate their children at 12-15 months and receive booster shots at 2-4 years old.

Rota virus is a leading cause of diarrhea in young children. According to a survey conducted from 1998-2003, an estimated 500-600 children under 5 years old die annually due to rotavirus infection in Vietnam, accounting for nearly 11% of total deaths in this age group. Even in advanced countries like the United States, before the rotavirus vaccine, over 400,000 young children were treated for rotavirus-induced diarrhea each year, with more than 200,000 requiring emergency hospitalization. The virus can survive for an extended period outside the environment and easily spreads through contact with infected children's feces or by touching contaminated objects, food, or water. In their explorative phase, young children are prone to infection as they frequently put objects in their mouths. After rotavirus infection, symptoms may suddenly manifest with vomiting for 1 to 3 days, followed by diarrhea. Symptoms can range from watery diarrhea to dehydration with vomiting, fever, and shock. Rotavirus infection is often more severe than common causes of diarrhea, with a high risk of dehydration and hospitalization in young children.

Rotavirus vaccine should be administered to infants early in the 'golden' period starting from 6 weeks old to prepare the body for the most susceptible period. The rotavirus vaccine schedule may include 2 or 3 doses depending on the vaccine type. As it is an oral vaccine, the administration for disease prevention is straightforward. The minimum interval for the first rotavirus vaccine dose is 6 weeks, and the maximum time for the final dose is 8 months, as most infants naturally contract the rotavirus after that period. Therefore, mothers should ensure their child receives vaccinations on time to provide early protection against natural rotavirus-induced diarrhea in the first few months of life. Rotavirus causing acute diarrhea in children is extremely perilous. So, parents, don't overlook this vaccine. Unlike other vaccines, this one is administered orally, given to the baby when they are 2-4 months old. The first dose must be administered no later than 14 weeks, as the effectiveness diminishes after the 15th week.

Human papillomavirus is a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. It is recommended to vaccinate girls aged 9-26 years. This vaccine needs to be administered in 3 doses over 6 months to protect your child from two sexually transmitted viruses that cause cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over 200 related viruses, some of which spread through sexual contact. Like other viruses, HPV invades cells and causes infection. Once inside, HPV will attack cells and spread to surrounding cells. There are more than 150 types of HPV, of which about 40 cause genital diseases in both males and females, transmitted through sexual contact, including oral sex. Moreover, genital HPV infection can occur even in individuals without sexual activity. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with the majority of sexually active people contracting HPV at least once in their lives.

If not treated promptly, HPV can cause the following diseases: Genital warts. About 12 types of HPV are classified as 'low-risk' and cause genital warts. Most patients with genital warts are caused by two low-risk HPV types: Type 6 and Type 11. Genital warts grow inside or outside the vagina or penis and can spread to the surrounding skin. Additionally, warts can appear in the vagina, cervix, or around the anus. On the other hand, this virus can also cause cancer: At least 13 types of HPV are classified as 'high-risk,' capable of causing cervical, anal, vaginal, or penile cancer, as well as oral and throat cancer. Most cases of cancer related to HPV are caused by two high-risk types: Type 16 and Type 18. As of now, the incidence of genital warts in children has not been thoroughly researched, but the average estimate suggests that children aged 2-8 or 5-6 years old have the highest risk of contracting genital warts. Worldwide studies show that HPV is a double-stranded DNA virus with more than 130 types identified. If adult genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11, then genital warts in children are caused by HPV types 1 and 4. Therefore, parents, ensure your child receives the vaccine at the right time.