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Vaccinations and physical examinations
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The purpose of preventive vaccinations is to make a child immune to certain infections, to protect him from a contagious disease and its complications. For example, such vaccinations helped to defeat diphtheria and poliomyelitis, and although these diseases still occur, their number is not as catastrophic as before.
Immunity can be passive and active.
Passive immunity is when antibodies against an infection are either passed from the mother's blood to the child in utero (innate immunity), or when these antibodies are taken from an immunized animal (serum) and administered to the child so that his body has protection against the infection.
Active immunity is developed by prophylactic vaccination. A weakened culture of the pathogen (bacteria or virus) is introduced, and in response to it, the child's body produces antibodies that subsequently neutralize the real pathogen if it does get into the child's body. But such immunity is not easy to achieve: the introduction of the vaccine is a serious burden on the body and there is a risk of complications. The most dangerous of them is inflammation of the membranes of the brain (meningitis or meningoencephalitis). Sometimes the vaccination does not fully protect against infection: the child still gets sick, but the disease is latent, atypical, so that it is sometimes difficult for the doctor to recognize it. In addition, a person vaccinated in childhood can get measles or mumps as an adult, and adults tolerate so-called childhood infections much more severely than children, often with complications.
There is no unanimity among specialists in assessing vaccinations. It is difficult to say unequivocally whether to do or not to do this or that vaccination, taking into account possible complications. The only thing that can be considered unambiguous is that vaccinations against polio, tetanus, rabies (if bitten by a dog) are mandatory, because these diseases are deadly. As for other vaccinations that prevent childhood infections, some doctors believe that a child should have had them, preferably in childhood. In addition, vaccinations increase the body's allergization, sometimes weakening the immune system.
Vaccinations are contraindicated for a child suffering from eczema, bronchial asthma or prone to seizures.