The time for DPT vaccination is now

As we all know, the DTP vaccine is a must-have vaccine for infants and young children. It is mainly used to prevent the occurrence of three diseases: whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. But when should the DTP vaccine be administered? Most mothers are not very clear about this. In fact, the DTP vaccine is given to babies between 3 months and 2 years old.

The DTP vaccine needs to be given four times in total, when the baby is 3 months, 4 months and 5 months old. These are the first three times and are basic immunizations. The fourth time is when the baby is between 18 months and 2 years old to strengthen immunity.

During the first three immunizations, the interval between each immunization must not be less than 28 days. When special circumstances prevent vaccination from being carried out on time, it can be postponed appropriately, but not for too long.

When the baby is 3 or 4 months old, the antibodies in the body will drop to the lowest level, which is not enough to protect the baby against viral invasion. This is undoubtedly the best time to vaccinate the baby with diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.

Methods of DPT vaccination

The method of administration of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine is intramuscular injection into the upper outer 1/4 of the baby's buttocks or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. It should be noted here that if BCG injection is given in the same month as DPT vaccination, the injection site for DPT vaccination cannot be the same.

In other words, if the BCG vaccine is injected into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, then if you want to get the DPT vaccine that month, you should avoid this location and consider other locations.

Generally speaking, for babies under one year old, when vaccinating against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, the first area to be considered should be the anterior and lateral thigh. After the baby is over one year old, the deltoid muscle of the upper arm should be injected.

The total number of vaccinations is 4 times. The first vaccination will be given when the baby is 3 months old, and then another one will be given after 28 days, and so on, until all 3 injections are completed. Giving the fourth shot when the baby is 1.5 or 2 years old can effectively prolong the existence of antibodies.