All parents want the best for their child. For many moms and dads, that also includes the question: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

To give you a comprehensive overview, Dr. med. Annalena Dehé and Dr. med. Lukas Dehé explain in this expert article how vaccination works in your child's body and what you should pay attention to during and after vaccination.

Additionally, you will find detailed information about all vaccinations recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) during infancy and early childhood.

How do vaccinations work in your child's body?

It’s helpful to know that there are different types of vaccinations, and they work differently in the body.

In everyday life, you and your child are exposed to a wide range of bacteria and viruses. The body responds with various immune defenses. Through multiple defense mechanisms, antibodies are produced that can then fight or neutralize pathogens. These mechanisms also take place during vaccination.

Vaccinations are generally divided into active and passive immunization, as well as vaccination with live or inactivated vaccines. In active immunization, weakened pathogens or pathogen components are administered. They cannot cause serious illness in the body, but they do trigger the production of antibodies and long-lasting memory cells. When the antibodies are broken down, the memory cells can produce the corresponding antibodies again upon contact with the respective virus or bacteria.

So-called mRNA- or vector-based vaccines cause the body to produce "pathogen" parts that correspond to those of the respective virus. This "fakes" an infection in the body and, just like with active immunization, antibodies and memory cells are produced.

Passive immunization makes it possible to provide the body with "passive" protection against certain diseases when the patient has already come into contact with the pathogen and does not have sufficient immunity at that time. In this case, antibodies obtained from immunocompetent humans or animals are administered. This type of vaccination does not provide lifelong protection, but usually only protection for a few months.

No matter what type of vaccination: complete, long-term immunity usually requires multiple doses or booster vaccinations.

What is the difference between inactivated and live vaccines?

Vaccines are generally divided into inactivated vaccines, which consist of killed, inactivated, non-replicating pathogen components, and live vaccines, which consist of attenuated, replicating pathogens.

Inactivated vaccines include most vaccinations, such as those against diphtheria, hepatitis B, polio, and pertussis. Live vaccines include rotavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccines. These vaccines contain small amounts of replicating pathogens, but only in weakened form, so the disease itself cannot be triggered. Very rarely, they can lead to a mild course of illness with typical symptoms, as in the case of vaccine measles. However, these are not contagious.

Vaccination: Yes or No?

From a medical perspective, definitely YES! Vaccination is important not only for the person being vaccinated—because childhood diseases are not harmless—but also for everyone else who, due to pre-existing conditions or their young age, cannot be vaccinated yet. Through vaccination, we can all contribute to protecting one another.

Many infectious diseases have not yet been eradicated worldwide. Due to globalization and travel opportunities, bacteria and viruses continually have the chance to cross borders and trigger endemics.

Vaccination recommendations for your baby and toddler

Additional vaccinations not routinely recommended by the STIKO

Vaccinations not included in the vaccination schedule are the vaccinations against early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME) and hepatitis A.

In any case, you should speak in detail with your pediatrician about local recommendations or individual advice—for example, before planned trips. These vaccinations are not listed in the nationwide vaccination schedule in Germany, but they may still be recommended on an individual basis.

What should be considered before, during, and after a vaccination?

Even when it’s done in the name of health, a vaccination is still uncomfortable at first for your little explorer. Along with receiving the right information and guidance about the vaccination, there are several things you can do to make the experience as comfortable as possible for your child.

Before the vaccination

Before each vaccination, it is important that the person being vaccinated—or the authorized representatives or parents—are informed about the planned vaccination, the vaccination process, and potential risks or complications.

• Your child should be healthy, free of infections, and fever-free

• The interval between vaccinations should be observed according to the recommendation

• In the case of known allergies to vaccine components, appropriate precautions should be taken, such as administering allergy prophylaxis and vaccinating in a safe, medically supervised vaccination environment.

• Before traveling, a travel medicine consultation should be sought to complete any missing vaccinations

During vaccination:

• Your child should be accompanied by you or another trusted person during the vaccination

• The upper arm/thigh (depending on age) should be positioned in a relaxed way, which reduces the pain of the injection and can lessen vaccination pain.

After the vaccination:

• The vaccination leg should be spared if possible.

• If your child has a known allergy, they should be closely monitored for at least 30 minutes after the vaccination

• Your child should refrain from children's gymnastics/school sports after the vaccination

• Make sure that your child does not take a hot shower/bath on the day of the vaccination

• In case of fever after vaccination, fever-reducing syrups/enemas can be administered. However, you should not give them preventively.

If you, as a parent, are wondering whether you want to have your child vaccinated or not, the most important thing is to inform yourself thoroughly. If you have concerns or unanswered questions, you can always contact your pediatrician directly or consult the Robert Koch Institute for guidance. As with all decisions regarding your child, you are making this one primarily for your little explorer.