After Your Child Gets Vaccines: What You Can Expect

Vaccines are like shields for your child against dangerous diseases such as polio, measles, and whooping cough. Just like any other medication, vaccines might have side effects at times. However, most of these reactions are completely normal and harmless. Being aware of what’s typical and what’s not can help ease your worries after your child’s vaccination.

Normal Reactions to Vaccines

Vaccines are made from weakened or killed parts of the diseases they protect against. They work by instructing your child’s body to produce antibodies, which are proteins that fight off those diseases. For instance, if your child were to encounter the real whooping cough after vaccination, their body would recognize it and be ready to combat it.

Mild reactions following a vaccine indicate that it’s doing its job. These symptoms show that your child’s body is generating new antibodies. Usually, these reactions disappear on their own within a few days. Common effects you might notice include:

• Tenderness or redness at the injection site
• Mild swelling at the injection site
• Irritability
• Slight fever
• Changes in sleep patterns, like trouble sleeping more or sleeping excessively

Occasionally, vaccines like DTaP and pneumococcal shots may lead to other reactions such as:

• Swelling of an entire arm or leg

Less frequently, but still considered normal, side effects could include:

• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Decreased appetite

These are typically temporary and don’t require any special treatment. If needed, consult your doctor about appropriate pain and fever relief medication.

When to Seek Medical Attention After Your Child Gets Vaccines

If your child has allergies to certain vaccines, you’d notice signs of a reaction. Usually, these reactions occur shortly after vaccination, within a few minutes or hours.

A general guideline is to keep an eye out for anything unusual, such as changes in mood or behavior, high fever, or weakness. Severe reactions are rare, occurring only in 1 out of 1 million children. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to be aware of symptoms that warrant medical attention so you can seek help for your child.

Specific signs to watch for include:

• Breathing difficulties like wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Swelling in the face or throat
• Fever exceeding 105°F
• Seizures

Moreover, if your baby or child cries inconsolably for 3 hours or longer, it might be a sign of a potential issue.

In extremely rare cases, certain vaccines could lead to severe outcomes like coma, prolonged seizures, or permanent brain damage. However, these reactions are highly unlikely. In fact, medical professionals are researching whether such serious side effects are genuinely linked to vaccines or have other causes.

If you notice any severe symptoms concerning you after your child’s vaccination, don’t hesitate to call 911 or take your child to the nearest hospital immediately.