Why is it important to vaccinate children before school?
Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect children from dangerous infectious diseases that spread through airborne droplets or contact. In enclosed spaces, such as classrooms, disease agents spread more easily, so it is especially important that a child starts the school year with the necessary protection, according to a press release.
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In September, when children return to educational institutions, the incidence of viral diseases, including flu, increases. If a child becomes ill, scheduled vaccinations may be postponed, which means that for some time they remain unprotected against certain infectious diseases. In addition, consistent vaccination according to the children’s preventive vaccination schedule may be disrupted.
“If some vaccines were missed due to illness or other reasons, it is important to consult the child’s doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will create an individual vaccination plan that will help the child safely and timely acquire the necessary protection against infectious diseases,” emphasizes Edita Jegelevičienė, senior specialist of the Infectious Diseases Management Department at NVSC.
What vaccines are required for first graders?
According to the Republic of Lithuania’s children’s preventive vaccination schedule, children aged 6–7 are entitled to the following booster vaccines:
- against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis (DTaP-IPV);
- against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
These vaccines are administered to children free of charge.
Tuberculosis prevention
We also remind parents of future first graders about the tuberculin test (Mantoux test), which helps detect infection with tuberculosis mycobacteria.
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“The tuberculin test is recommended for all children aged 6–7 before starting school. During the tuberculin test, a small amount of protein secreted by weakened tuberculosis mycobacteria is injected into the inner skin of the forearm. After 48–72 hours, a pediatrician or family doctor evaluates the test result,” explains the NVSC representative.
A positive tuberculin test result does not necessarily mean that the child has tuberculosis. It may indicate that the child is infected with tuberculosis mycobacteria, but the disease has not developed – the bacteria are inactive in the body, do not cause symptoms, and the child is not contagious to others.
If a positive tuberculin test result is found, the child is referred to a pediatric pulmonologist consultation. The specialist, after evaluating additional test results, determines whether the child has tuberculosis and whether treatment is necessary.
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