8 Crucial Vaccine Facts Every Parent Should Know

Parents go the extra mile to give their children the best life they can — from healthy home-cooked meals and the best schooling for quality education to safe toys and joyful birthday parties. They try to fulfil every little wish. They work hard each day, making sure their kids feel loved, safe, and cared for in every possible way. Every desire is granted, and every comfort is thoughtfully selected.

However, immunization — in simple terms, ‘vaccination’ — is one of the most effective presents a parent can give that isn't wrapped in ribbons.

Newborns have underdeveloped immune systems that mature over time. At birth, antibodies are passed from the mother through the placenta to the child. The life-giver, later through her breast milk rich in IgA antibodies, provides protection that is ephemeral. The adaptive immune system starts developing after we step into the world. We are exposed to microbes, either through natural infections or vaccinations.

What else makes a difference is nutrition, genetics, gut health, and environmental exposure supporting a child’s immune system.

Vaccines are biological products that help the immune system make memory cells, and there is no associated risk of severe illness. Although by the age of 5 years, most children have a much more mature immune system, immunization still remains essential and is an ongoing necessity to complete and strengthen their immune defenses.

Vaccines are tiny lifesavers — they are not just little bottles of medication.

MedBound Times connected with Dr. Jalil S. Mujawar, Senior Neonatologist and Pediatrician, Dr. Syeda Samreen, PharmD, India's First Adult Vaccination Adviser, and Dr. Meghana, PharmD, Adult Vaccination Advisor, for their expertise on vaccination for children.

When we hear the word “vaccination,” we often imagine babies and toddlers at the clinic with their immunization cards. But here's what many parents don't realize: vaccines are not just for kids. They’re equally important for adults, adolescents, and even the elderly at home. Parents themselves, and the grandparents caring for little ones, also need protection.

“Many adults skip vaccines due to lack of awareness, but staying up-to-date is a simple yet powerful way to protect yourself and those around you, especially high-risk family members,” Dr. Meghana, PharmD, Adult Vaccination Adviser leading AVON at Rainbow Bengaluru, adds.

Let’s explore the 8 most important vaccine facts every parent should know to protect their children, themselves, and their loved ones — building a healthier community.

The journey of immunity begins right from birth. A newborn, vulnerable to infections often before they’ve even opened their eyes fully to the world, receives the first tiny doses of vaccines like BCG and Hepatitis B. Protecting health for years to come starts with those first doses. But it shouldn’t end there. Immunity requires frequent additional support called ‘boosters’ at every stage of life, much like children outgrow their toys and clothing. Children need to get vaccinations like HPV and Tdap as they grow, in order to keep themselves protected.

Additionally, the weight of adulthood — jobs, parenting, and constant stress — chips away at our immunity. With time, we undergo immunosenescence — a natural process where immunity declines, opening the door to infections like COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles, and the flu. Immunization is a lifelong commitment — to your health and others.

Many parents don’t think twice before spending the same amount on a new gadget or planning a family trip to an amusement park. While those moments create memories, investing in buying a vaccine that provides a lifetime of protection against preventable diseases is a wise step.

What often goes unseen is the physical and emotional burden of disease, hospitalization, cost of treatment, and long-term complications from preventable diseases like pneumonia and HPV-associated cancers.

According to WHO, HPV vaccination has led to an 87% reduction in cervical cancer among women vaccinated at ages 12-13 inthe UK.^[1]

Vaccines are a health investment, not a luxury.

Many necessary vaccines are provided free of cost at government hospitals under India's National Immunization Schedule. This list may not cover all the required vaccines, though; some, such as the rotavirus or pneumococcal vaccines, must be obtained from private healthcare providers. In these situations, selecting a hospital setup with a well-maintained cold chain is crucial to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

Dr Jalil advises, “Take vaccines at government setups. Save that money and use it for private setup vaccines not covered in the government list.”

Some parents assume that costlier vaccines are automatically more effective. But that’s not always true. Every vaccine approved by health authorities is thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy.

There’s a popular myth that more painful injections mean stronger protection.

“If pain meant more protection,” Dr. Jalil remarks, “we wouldn’t have painless vaccines or nasal sprays in the first place. Small car < Sedan < SUV < Luxury Car.”

Newer, less painful vaccines and nasal sprays are just as effective, if not more.

Among the safest healthcare molecules developed to date are vaccines, as they go through several stages of clinical trials where safety and efficacy studies are made. Serious reactions are extremely uncommon and can be managed with ease, but mild side effects like fever, pain at the injection site, and redness are common.

Antivaxxer narratives continue to gain traction online, often reaching parents who try to make the best choices for their children — but end up misled by fear instead of facts. Misinformation, especially around autism, continues to scare parents without scientific proof. Dr Jalil states unequivocally: ‘Baseless Autism Risk’ and adds, ‘Associating vaccines with autism is a myth rooted in misinformation, not science.’

Global immunization efforts have played a major role in the elimination of smallpox, a deadly disease to which millions succumbed, and now polio is nearly gone. Initiatives like GAVI ensure that even low-income countries have access to lifesaving vaccines.

As per WHO estimates, vaccination prevents 3.5 to 5 million deaths annually from diseases like measles, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. ^[2]

This is not just prevention; it's public health at its most powerful.

Cocooning: How Adults Protect the Vulnerable

Envision a newborn kissed by grandparents, held by parents once they return home from work, or surrounded by neighbours. One tiny sneeze from an unvaccinated adult could expose a newborn to a potentially fatal infection as the child’s immune system is underdeveloped.

The cocooning effect enters the picture at this point.

To build a protective "cocoon" of immunity around a vulnerable one, entails vaccinating those in their immediate vicinity, particularly the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. This keeps the disease from ever reaching the person who isn't yet directly protected.

The most vulnerable members of the family are protected when parents, siblings, grandparents, and caregivers are all immunized — similar to how a cocoon shields a butterfly before it can take flight.

Adult immunization is not just for cocooning a child; it is to promote healthy ageing by protecting yourself.

Immunization isn’t just a health checklist. It isn’t just about the child in your arms today. It’s about the adult they’ll become, the grandparent you love, the newborn in the next room, and even you. So next time you see that tiny vial or glance at your child’s vaccine card, remember — you’re not just following a schedule. You’re building a shield of hope, health, and humanity.

Because the real celebration is a life without disease.

References:

1. UK Health Security Agency. “Impact of HPV Vaccination on Cervical Cancer.” 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hpv-vaccine-cuts-cervical-cancer-by-almost-90-percent
   

2. World Health Organization. “Immunization Coverage.” April 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage