Meaning of Immunization and Vaccination
Immunization: The process by which a person becomes protected against a disease.
Vaccination: The act of giving a vaccine (usually by injection or drops) to a person to make them immune.
Vaccine: A special substance made from weakened or killed germs that teaches the body how to fight a real germ.
How Immunization Works
Step What happens
1 Vaccine enters the body (injection or drops)
2 Body detects the weakened/dead germs
3 Body produces antibodies (special fighters)
4 Antibodies remember the germ
5 If real germ attacks later, body destroys it immediately
Step 4: Common Childhood Immunizations and Diseases Prevented
Vaccine Given against (Disease) How given
BCG Tuberculosis (TB) – affects lungs Injection (upper arm)
OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) Polio – causes paralysis Drops by mouth
Penta (or DPT + Hep B + Hib) Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib Injection (thigh)
PCV Pneumonia – lung infection Injection
Rotavirus Severe diarrhea (vomiting and stooling) Drops by mouth
Measles vaccine Measles – fever, rash Injection
Yellow Fever vaccine Yellow fever – jaundice, bleeding Injection
COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 Injection
Immunization Schedule (When to vaccinate) – (5 minutes)
Age Vaccine
At birth (0 weeks) BCG, OPV (0), Hepatitis B
6 weeks OPV (1), Penta (1), PCV (1), Rotavirus (1)
10 weeks OPV (2), Penta (2), PCV (2), Rotavirus (2)
14 weeks OPV (3), Penta (3), PCV (3)
9 months Measles, Yellow Fever
12-18 months Booster doses
Importance of Immunization.
For the individual For the community
Prevents dangerous diseases Stops outbreaks (epidemics)
Saves money on treatment Protects those who cannot be vaccinated (e.g., very sick babies)
Prevents disability (e.g., polio) Helps achieve herd immunity (when most people are immune, disease cannot spread)
Allows child to grow healthy Saves the nation money on healthcare
