MedTop College - page 19

CONTRA-INDICATION TO IMMUNIZATION

There are few contra-indications to immunization. The health worker should immunize eligible children and women except in the following rare situations.

1- Do not give the 2nd or 3rd dose of Penta vaccine to a child who has had severe reaction to an earlier dose. Severe reactions include convulsions or shock within 3 days after injection.

2- Do not give BCG or Yellow fever vaccine to child with clinical AIDS.

3- If a parent strongly objects to vaccinating their sick child even after proper counseling do not give it.

REMEMBER

1- There is almost no contra-indication to immunization.

2- The health worker can vaccinate children and women affected by

-Minor illnesses including colds, diarrhea and fever.

-Allergy, asthma.

-Malnutrition.

The health worker can vaccinate premature infants and breastfeeding children.

ADVERSE EFFECTS FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION (AEFI)

DEF- An adverse following immunization (AEFI) is a medical incident that takes place after an immunization is a cause of concern to the child’s care giver and is believed to be cause by immunization (WHO Aide memorie: AEFI investigation, 2004).

CLASSIFICATION OF AEFI

VACCINE REACTION

Event where an individual reacts to a particular vaccine. The reaction could be due to the active component of the vaccine itself; the preservative or the stabilizer. Most vaccine reactions are mild, common and expected. They settle without treatment and have no long term consequences. Serious reactions are very rare.

PROGRAMMATIC ERROR

Events caused by error in vaccine preparation, handling or administration; they are the most frequent cause of adverse events and can be avoided.

COINCIDENTAL

Events happens after the immunization but is not caused by the vaccine or the programme i.e. a chance association.

INJECTION REACTION

Anxiety or pain from the injection itself rather than the vaccine even after safe injection practice.

UNKNOWN/UNDERMINED

Adverse event with unknown cause.

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