Painless or Normal Vaccine - What Should Your Child Take?

The debate for painless versus normal vaccine has been there for quite long time leaving parents confused. So, let’s get all the facts right!

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All vaccines are not available in painless versus painful variant. Only DPT vaccine is available in these two formats.

WHAT IS DPT VACCINE?

This combination vaccine protects against three diseases:

Diphtheria: Diphtheria is a bacterial infection causing a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death.

Tetanus: Tetanus (lockjaw) is a serious disease that causes painful tightening of muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw so the patient cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 in 10 cases.

Pertussis: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough or 100 day cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. Since the 1980s, the number of reported pertussis cases has increased. These increases have been noted in both infants younger than age 1 year, ages 11-18 years and adults.

WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY PAINLESS AND NORMAL DPT VACCINE?

DPT/DwPT vaccine: Normal/whole cell/painful vaccine as it is called, it contains the entire killed pertussis bacteria with the cell covering inside the vaccine
DaPT vaccine: Painless/ acellular vaccine as it is called, it contains the killed pertussis bacteria with the cell covering removed. The cell covering of pertussis bacteria is responsible for most of the side effects of DPT vaccine like fever, pain, etc
WHEN ARE THESE VACCINES GIVEN?
- Given as an injection in the muscle in the side or front of the thighs
- First/ Primary doses are given at 6/ 10/ 14 weeks OR 2/ 4/ 6 Months
- Booster 1 is given at 15-18 months
- Booster 2 is given at 4.5-5 years
- In case you miss any dose, consult the doctor. The doctor will put up a new schedule depending on the dose missed

HOW DO I TAKE CARE FOR MY BABY AFTER THE DOSE?

Your child may experience fever, soreness, and some swelling and redness in the area where the shot was given. Give acetaminophen (paracetamol) in doses of 10-15mg/kg/dose if fever, pain, swelling causes distress to your child every 4-6 hours for the first 2 days
Ice fomentation/pack help to numb the pain, if packs not available use a few ice cubes in a napkin or towel and compress the site lightly for 5 minutes and repeat after some time
It is safe to give a bath or a gentle massage the next day. Continue breastfeeding as usual
There is no need to immobilize the limbs

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS?

Keeping in mind our country’s dynamics, IAP recommends DTwP for primary immunization whereas AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and CDC recommends DTaP for children >7 years age. Our personal opinion is that parents should take an informed decision along with their pediatrician.