Experts and doctors across India are talking about the third wave of Covid19. Many of them are of the view that the third wave is likely to attack the children. Getting immune is important and for immunity against covid19, the only way is through vaccination. Now in India, vaccination drive has been going on for elderly and the adults so far. The same drive for children is yet to start in India once the testing and study of the vaccines are determined. However, it is likely to start soon like in many other countries which are immunizing kids, primarily between the age group of 12-15 years. 

But, amid so much uncertainty and tension, it might become a real cause of worry for parents to get their children vaccinated. At the same time looking at the health havoc being caused by covid19 and the constant fear of being attacked, it becomes necessary for everyone including children to get vaccinated. Let’s see how being immunized going to help?

Benefits of getting vaccinated

How the vaccine will help? The vaccine introduces an inactivated form of a bacteria or virus into our body and trains our immune system to fight the infection. However, being inactivated, the germ (bacteria/virus) doesn’t make us sick. Besides, the vaccine triggers the immune system of our body to produce defences called antibodies. Thus, in case our body ever catches the germ, our immune system would know how to fight it.

Why is vaccination necessary?

If parents of small children fall prey to the covid19 virus, it inevitably affects the children. So they must get vaccinated first. Also, if a small child gets infected and requires medical treatment in a hospital, one of the parents is required to accompany the baby for taking care of the child. Even in that case, the parent needs to be vaccinated to avoid getting infected in the hospital. 

Besides, if a person catches the virus after getting vaccinated, the effects of the virus would be mild and the person would be in a better position to fight and get back to health soon. Thus, both parents and kids are required to get vaccinated to stay safe and protected from the covid19 virus. Hence, in simple words, getting vaccinated is a must for everyone including children to stay protected in the current situation.

How parents should prepare?

Being in different stages of development, several factors need to be considered when testing the safety and efficacy of vaccines for children. Some such factors include the weight of the child, dosage acceptability, etc. Parents should consult and understand the various pros and cons of different vaccines with their healthcare experts to know the best way and dose so that the child gets enough protection without the worry of any side effects.

Parents should also soothe and comfort their children before proceeding with the covid19 vaccination drive like in the case of other vaccinations going on since childhood. Use your different parenting skills and tactics to reassure your child that everything is going to be fine and the vaccine is for their protection. Meanwhile, ensure that children continue maintaining physical distance from others, wash hands frequently and wear a mask to protect them from the virus.