When Children Shouldn’t Get Immunized
When Children Shouldn’t Get Immunized
Immunizations are the poster child for health care and disease prevention in children. Most of the time childhood immunizations cause no problems in the child. However, there are some situations when your child should not get immunized. Find out how you can tell if your child should be immunized or if you should wait.
Diphtheria and Tetanus
Children that have received these immunizations and exhibited signs of a pinpoint rash, any hives or swelling, or anaphylaxis shock should not get another diphtheria and tetanus.
Pertussis
If your child has ever had a seizure your doctor may either postpone the pertussis immunization till either he/she has gone over six months without a seizure or until the cause of the seizure is known.
If your child has had a previous reaction to the pertussis vaccine (i.e. high fever, seizures, high pitch crying, or a collapse), then the pertussis vaccine isn’t right for your child.
Hepatitis B
If your child has shown to have a yeast allergy then there is a reason to believe that he/she shouldn’t be given the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Chickenpox
If your child has a weakened immune system for any reason, he/she should not have the chickenpox vaccine. Talk to your pediatrician to see if he/she is in a risk situation with this live virus vaccine.
Influenza
If your child has an egg allergy they should not receive a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is prepared out of egg protein and could have a reaction to this immunization.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
If your child has a weakened immune system due to an underlying illness they should not receive these vaccines due to them containing the live virus. However, in the special case of the measles vaccine and a child that has HIV, it is better for them to take the vaccine than it is for them to come down with a case of the measles. Check with your pediatrician to find out more about the measles, mumps, and rubella immunization and your child’s needs.
