Which vaccines are Mandatory and Optional for your Child?

We all know prevention is better than cure. That’s why it is recommended to have vaccination of your child to prevent deadly diseases to occur. Some vaccines are mandatory and some are optional but it doesn’t mean that we will dismiss them.

Here is a list of some mandatory and optional vaccines for infants in India are:

Mandatory vaccines include:

1. BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) for Tuberculosis

2. PV (Oral Polio Vaccine) for Polio

3. Hepatitis B for Hepatitis B virus causing liver infections in the child

4. DPT for Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Tetanus

5. Rotavirus for Rotavirus infection which causes severe diarrhea and vomiting

6. MMR for Measles, Mumps and Rubella

7. TCV for Typhoid

8. Hepatitis A

These vaccines are given in several doses to prevent the diseases to occur. Every pediatrician gives an immunization schedule indicating which vaccines are compulsory, when they should be given and which vaccines are optional. The schedule eventually aims to eradicate these diseases completely.

Some of the optional vaccines are for the following diseases:

Pneumococcus

Chickenpox

Meningococcal meningitis

Influenza

Always consult your child's doctor before taking any decision.