VACCINATIONS

So I was on my usual forum indulging in my strawberry yogurt looking through June's angel babies and what our June mommies have to say. I read that there are women that are getting vaccinations. I am aware that healthcare overseas is different to the healthcare we have here in South Africa. I was wondering what vaccinations we have here for adults except for the flu-shot. I googled it and all it shows is all the vaccinations for babies and kids up until age 5.

Routine immunization schedule in South Africa

• At birth (OPV, BCG)
• 6 weeks (OPV, DTP, HBV, Hib)
• 10 weeks (OPV, DTP, HBV, Hib)
• 14 weeks (OPV, DTP, HBV, Hib)
• 9 months (Measles)
• 18 months (OPV, DTP, Measles)
• 5 years (OPV, DT)

BCG = bacillus Calmette-Guérin (tuberculosis) vaccine primarily preventing TB meningitis in infants
OPV = oral polio vaccine
DTP = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
DT = diphtheria, tetanus vaccine
HBV = hepatitis B vaccine
Hib = Haemophilus influenza group b (meningitis) vaccine

General information about vaccines

How effective are vaccines?

Most of the vaccines in use against viruses are very effective at preventing disease. However, for a variety of reasons, they can fail:

• The vaccine becomes inactive due to incorrect storage, if used past its expiry date, or if incorrectly administered.
• Individuals unpredictably fail to produce an adequate immune response to the vaccine.
• Vaccine immunity “fades” over time.

Overall, about one in 20 people will contract an infection that they were vaccinated against. Usually, such people will get a milder infection than they would have otherwise.

Vaccine reactions

Reactions can occur after vaccinations. The following are the general types of reactions that may occur:

Mild reactions:

• Mildly elevated temperature
• Headache
• Feeling unwell
• Soreness at vaccination site

Severe reactions:

(Rare, but more often associated with pertussis and influenza vaccines.)
These reactions occur within 48 - 72 hours of vaccination and include:

• Extensive, hard, red swelling around the vaccination site
• Fever above 39.5 degrees Celsius
• Convulsions (Pertussis)
• Decreased level of consciousness (Pertussis)
• Prolonged inconsolable screaming (Pertussis)

Anaphylactic (allergic) reactions:

Very rare. Anaphylactic reactions occur within a few minutes to a few hours after vaccination. Similar reactions may also occur after other kinds of drug injections. Anaphylactic reactions are a medical emergency. An anaphylactic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden collapse, with a weak pulse and loss of consciousness (must be distinguished from a faint, which is more common)
• A more gradual onset, with sweating, swelling of the skin (hives), difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, hoarseness, wheezing, dizziness, fast pulse, paleness

A register of all known side effects with viral vaccines is maintained in the USA and in most European countries. This allows the analysis and follow up of all side effects associated with vaccinations in these countries. Based on data from this register, vaccines are generally regarded as very safe when compared to other medicines.

Risks attached to specific vaccines are mentioned under the descriptions of these in the following section.