The truth about vaccination
Despite vaccination being a requirement for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Sarawak, it would not be remiss to say that some parents have concerns about vaccinating their infants.
As vaccination scepticism continues to be one of the key reasons for parents to avoid vaccinating children, be it JE or other vaccine-preventable diseases, diseases like JE continue to be unpredictable with possibly devastating consequences for children who contract it.
Pediatrician Dr Tan Gek Ling believes that parents who are aware about how vaccination works are more inclined to readily vaccinate their children.
When it comes to JE, one never knows when a tiny mosquito bite will be fatal. While symptoms can often be mild and confused with that of influenza or the common cold, it can quickly become a serious illness, causing inflammation of the brain that can have severe neurological impact on a child.
Children are considered high risk and can be protected against JE — when parents choose to vaccinate and are aware of the dire consequences of the disease.
On this note, New Sarawak Tribune had the chance for a Q&A session with by Dr Tan, who elaborates on JE, its symptoms, and vaccination.
Why are some parents unsure about vaccination, given that it has an important role to play?
I think most of them don’t know how a vaccine works and how vaccination is able to protect children against diseases. People usually have the misconception of thinking vaccines are being used to ‘treat’ the disease rather than to ‘prevent’, and so wrongly believing that vaccines will lower the immunity of the body. Therefore, they mistakenly think vaccination works like antibiotics. But they are not same and have two separate functions.
Are parents justified in their fears?
No. People tend to believe myths and unproven information through word of mouth from family and friends. You rely on people you trust for info. But sometimes it’s the lack of understanding that leads to wrong information being spread. Sometimes, parents do not want to take the risk as they do presume there will be side effects and as such, they decide to not vaccinate their children.
While there may be minor side effects to the vaccine in some cases such as a mild fever or some swelling, this very much depends on each individual’s reaction. Some parents also worry about the pain caused by a needle or the vaccine constituent but again this will depend on how a child reacts to the jab. Whatever the parents’ fear maybe, they must talk to their paediatricians. Raise their concerns and get the facts on vaccination.
Ultimately, vaccination can protect against disease. It is proven to be effective and vaccinations available in Malaysia have been approved as being safe for use by the Ministry of Health.
How long has vaccination been around?
The world’s first successful vaccine was created in the 1790s for smallpox. The disease was around for 3,000 years. Smallpox was eventually eradicated worldwide as a result of a global vaccination programme according to World Health Organisation (WHO). Last known case of smallpox was in 1977.
How safe are the vaccines of today for children?
Vaccinations available in Malaysia have been approved as being safe for use by the Ministry of Health. Vaccines go through rigorous research & development to ensure their safety and efficacy locally and internationally.
They are stringently monitored continuously by various organisations. For example the World Health Organisation (WHO). Vaccination saves approximately 2.5 million lives each year around the world.
What are the consequences of children not being vaccinated in general?
If parents choose not to vaccinate their children, they are exposing their kids to the risk of contracting a vaccine preventable disease. Unvaccinated children can also put others at risk.
What are the risks and benefits of vaccines?
Vaccines may see minor symptoms in different individuals, depending on their body’s reaction. Common symptoms are a mild fever and slight swelling.
Vaccination significantly reduces the number of children who can contract infectious diseases. Without vaccination, there will be greater incidence of epidemics and outbreaks. The benefits outweigh any possible risk especially when vaccination can make the difference between living and dying.
Some people worry that vaccines may overload their baby’s immune system. Is this true?
No, it’s not true. Actually, theses parents likely do not understand how vaccines work and therefore mistakenly think it functions like antibiotics. Vaccines are not antibiotics.
A baby can tolerate vaccination unless a paediatrician advises against it, specifically due to a baby’s underlying health issues.
Vaccines work perfectly well in a healthy immune system which is able to regulate the antibody.
Unless the child is suffering from some disease where the immune system is weak, there is no harm in vaccinating.
Common myths/misunderstanding about children vaccination
Painful — Parents are worried about the pain caused by needle or the vaccine constituent. But it varies for each individual, depending on how a child’s body reacts to a jab. The benefits of vaccination outweigh the possibility of some pain.
Vaccinations have too many antigens — This fear is about children getting more vaccines means there are too many antigens entering the body and this will cause the body to build resistance. In fact, despite more vaccinations needed today, patients are now inoculated with far fewer antigens than 30 years ago. And spreading out vaccinations over a long period of time will leave the child more exposed and vulnerable to disease.
Vaccination is like antibiotics — Vaccination works entirely different from antibiotics. Vaccination is a ‘preventive’ method and is given to protect before one catches a disease. Vaccination helps the body form natural immunity by creating antibodies to fight against the disease. On the other hand, antibiotics are only given after the infection has started; to combat the disease by destroying the bacteria.
Diseases are extinct — Vaccines are no longer needed once the diseases they help to eradicate are long gone. The fact is there are still many diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.
For example, globally measles continues to be a major killer of children according WHO, which is why kids still need to be vaccinated.
What are the vaccines that parents need to give to children below 10 years old if they are travelling abroad & why?
Vaccination to protect against influenza or the flu is highly recommended. Influenza can be a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious complications. Meningococcal vaccine is a must for those going for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage.
Whether travelling or not, as long as there are mosquitoes in a tropical country, you are prone to mosquito-borne diseases like Japanese Encephalitis. Parents can protect their children with vaccination.
Key message to the public
Parents must gain a better understanding about how vaccination works. Why not protect your child with vaccination instead of focusing on treatment of a disease. Prevention is better than cure.
It is a community’s responsibility, a parent’s responsibility to understand vaccination better and make the right choices to ensure a child’s health is well protected.
