VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PART II

3. DPT vaccine/ Triple antigen: The DPT vaccine confers immunity against three deadly diseases, diphtheria, pertusis or whooping cough and tetanus.  It is administered as an intramuscular injection into the thigh to all children at 6, 10, 14 weeks with a booster at 1.5 years of age. The vaccine is usually replaced with a Double antigen DT which contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoid at age 5. Tetanus vaccine is repeated at age 10 and 15 years. The DTaP vaccine, also known as DTPa or TDaP that causes fewer side effects compared to the DPT vaccine, is also available. However, its cost does not justify its widespread use. The Tdap vaccine is a form of the DPT vaccine that can be administered in individuals from 11 to 64 years of age.

4. Hepatitis B vaccine: Hepatitis B vaccine is administered as three doses at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks (along with the DPT vaccine) and at 6 months of age if the mother is known to be negative for the hepatitis B antigen HBsAg. If it is not known if the mother is positive or negative for HBsAg, an additional dose should be administered within 24 hours of birth. If the mother is positive for HBsAg and/or HBeAg, the baby is administered Hepatitis B Immune Globulin and hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. Hepatitis B vaccine is included in the National Immunization Schedule of India in some districts