Vaccines help to prevent diseases and save lives. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccines are "the most successful medical advances of all time." Prior to vaccines, children were dying of diseases such as polio, whooping cough and measles. Today, these diseases are uncommon due to vaccination. Immunizations also protect the health of the community, especially those whose immunity has been compromised and those children who are too young to receive vaccinations. Despite the benefits of vaccination, there has been growing parental concern about vaccine safety and side effects.
Fever
A child can have fever that begins as soon as 24 hours after the vaccination or up to two to three days afterward. The fever can be accompanied by fussiness. Fever in a child is defined as a temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit and above.You can treat a fever caused by vaccination with acetaminophen and cold compresses. Most times, a fever after vaccination is not a cause for concern. If the fever does not subside with acetaminophen or if the temperature is greater than 104, call your pediatrician.
Swelling and Redness at the Injection Site
It is common for children to have mild swelling and redness of the skin at the injection site after a vaccination. This can occur 24 hours after the vaccine and last up to seven days. This is usually not a cause for concern. If the swelling increases, the redness spreads or the skin becomes tender and hot to touch, contact your pediatrician.
Allergic Reaction
Life-threatening allergic reactions are extremely rare but can occur with any vaccine. This may manifest as difficulty breathing and an itchy rash, and usually occurs within hours after vaccine administration. If you suspect your child ias having an allergic reaction, take him to the hospital immediately.
Seizures
Febrile seizures (seizure occurring after a fever) are extremely rare but can occur with some vaccinations such as the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) and the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines. If your child experiences a seizure, it is important to make sure her airway is protected to minimize choking risk. These types of seizures are not known to have any long-term complications.
Concern about Autism
Autism is a disorder of the brain that affects how a child communicates and behaves. About 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism. There has been growing concern about the connection of autism with the MMR vaccine. Since the vaccine is given at 12 to 15 months of age and the symptoms of autism often present around 15 to 18 months of age, there has been a suspected link between the two.
This speculation began in 1998 when a medical journal called "The Lancet" published a study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield connecting MMR and autism. However, in February 2010, "The Lancet" retracted this article. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "studies conducted in the U.S. and Europe have found no association between the MMR vaccine and autism."
