It is important for children to get vaccinated when they are healthy before they are exposed to harmful germs, especially during infancy and early childhood when their immune system is underdeveloped and when they are vulnerable to harmful infections. Children ought to receive their vaccines on time, as recommended by the national immunisation schedule so that they can receive adequate protection in their early years when they need it most. Without vaccines, children are at risk for serious illnesses including measles, mumps, polio, whooping cough and flu, which could result in hospitalisation, disability or even death.

Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful testing and review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Common side effects of vaccines are mild and self-limiting, and include 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 reactions, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

When you get your child/children vaccinated, you are protecting yourself, also protecting your family and your community from contagious and dangerous diseases. Delaying a child’s vaccinations just increases the time that he/she is susceptible to dangerous, and potentially life-threatening diseases.