As you know, vaccinating your children is vitally important to protect them against many diseases of varying severity. Prevention is the best medicine in many cases, and to achieve this, it is essential that children receive the relevant vaccines, which are those that are included in the childhood vaccination schedule (for children residing in Spain).
In this newly released year 2020, they include some modifications and recommendations that is worth knowing. Since, although your children's pediatrician is the one who should recommend the vaccines that each child should receive, by age group especially, it never hurts to know what doses your children will have to receive at what point in their life.
Vaccines save lives
In order for babies and children to develop their defenses against many diseases, it is necessary that they first receive the appropriate vaccine. Vaccines allow the immunological system to be strengthened of the kids. For this reason, the Spanish Ministry of Health indicates that babies should be vaccinated from birth until they reach the age of majority, 18 years.
According to the childhood vaccination schedule for the year 2020, the administration of the vaccines will begin when the baby has not yet been born, that is, the dose will be received by the expectant mother. The importance of administering vaccines within the dates established by age is also stressed. Since in this way, the contagion of various diseases can be prevented at every moment of children's childhood.
Although the childhood vaccination schedule it is the same for the entire Spanish territory, the organization of the same is the exclusive competence of each Autonomous Community. However, the vaccinations are the same for all children and they should receive them when the pediatrician indicates it.
Childhood vaccination schedule for 2020
Image: Vaccine Advisory Committee
These are the vaccines that are included in the schedule for this year 2020.
- Whooping cough and flu: They are the vaccines that are administered during the gestation period. Whooping cough is applied between weeks 24 and 36 of pregnancy. In the case of the flu, expectant mothers will be vaccinated at any time during the pregnancy whenever flu season arrives.
- Diphtheria and tetanus: It is administered during pregnancy, between weeks 27 and 28. In addition, it will be applied in babies of 2, 4 and 11 months, to children who are between the 6 and 14 years and those who are between 15 and 18 years old.
- Poliomyelitis: The vaccine is recommended polio to the babies of 2,4 and 11 months and a combined dose at age 6.
- Viral triplet (measles, rubella, and mumps) A first dose at 12 months and the second between 3 and the 4 years.
- Hepatitis B: at 2, 4 and 11 months of age, in the event that the mother has positive AgBHs, the first dose will be administered in the hospital itself, nothing else to be born.
- Menignococcus: It is given at 4 months, a second dose at 12 months and a third at 12 years.
- Varicella: The first dose will be administered at 15 months and the second between 3 and 4 years old. Adolescents who have not had the disease and who did not receive the vaccine in childhood, will receive two doses leaving a gap of at least 4 weeks between them.
- Human papilloma virus: This vaccine only applies to girls and administration is advanced up to 12 years. However, a recommendation is added so that children are also vaccinated against this disease. This is one of the most important developments in this year's childhood immunization schedule.
News in the childhood vaccination schedule
One of the main novelties is increasing the age range in which it is recommended to apply some vaccines. Recommendations are also added to vaccinate in the case of premature children, as well as protection against certain diseases even before birth, which are received by pregnant women.
In addition to these recommendations and as a fundamental novelty, the colors that differentiate the subsidized vaccines with those that are paid have been eliminated. Which shows the importance of include all vaccinations within the schedule, and ensure that all are subsidized. Thus, no child will be left without the protection they deserve against potentially dangerous diseases.