Vaccination is one of the best methods of protection from serious diseases for both children and adults. Unfortunately, vaccination schedules may change due to various reasons, including illness, travel, moving to new places, forgetting to vaccinate, and not having easy access to appropriate medical care. When parents miss a scheduled vaccination, they often worry whether they should begin the whole vaccination process anew. Fortunately, the answer is that this is usually not the case, because health professionals usually recommend a missed vaccination schedule based on the individual’s age, prior vaccination record and type of vaccine.
What is a catch-up vaccination?
Catch-up vaccination occurs when vaccines are given to someone who has missed doses or has delayed the vaccination process and now needs to be vaccinated for proper immunity as per the vaccination guidelines.
The catch-up schedule will differ slightly from person to person based on their age, vaccination history, intervals between doses and other medical status that may affect vaccination. In general, when determining the vaccines due and the minimum intervals between doses in children, doctors will refer to the recommended immunisation schedule, as well as catch-up recommendations.
Is there a need to start over again with the vaccine series?
One of the more widely held misunderstandings is that once a vaccine is missed for a few months or more, the whole series needs to be done again. In many instances, that is not true. In fact, a late vaccine can simply be given at the next scheduled visit. As a rule, previous valid vaccines count even after a gap longer than the recommended one. Yet, there are variations in regulations for different vaccines, including rules about how many doses of certain vaccines need to be given and specific issues pertaining to age. Thus, it is unwise to make decisions regarding the catch-up schedule on the sole basis of a time period for certain missed vaccines.
What to do if vaccination information is unavailable?
There are moments when people are not sure what vaccinations they or their children have received. Parents may have lost their vaccination books, or the information may not be available because they changed cities or doctors. In such cases, a healthcare professional will analyse any available information and suggest what should be done next. Depending on the vaccination and the situation, the person might need additional doses if prior vaccination cannot be documented reliably. The solution should be individual rather than based on generalisation.
Can multiple vaccinations be given at the same time?
There are many cases when several vaccines can be administered at one healthcare visit. This is part of catch-up immunisation programmes, so people can be protected without needless delays. It is possible to register injections at several places if many injections are required.
Combination vaccines allow reducing the number of injections at some ages. Parents should consult their doctor before implementing any vaccination schedule, especially if their child has any underlying medical conditions or has suffered from any serious reaction to vaccination.
What should be done if a child is feeling slightly sick?
The usual reason for postponing vaccination would be when the child has suffered a slight illness. However, just because he or she is unwell does not mean that vaccination cannot take place. The decision will also depend on the overall situation of the child and the specific vaccination involved. Significant fever or acute deterioration of the child’s condition may lead the healthcare worker to decide in favour of postponing vaccination for some time. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that this postponement should be only temporary.
What is the significance of vaccination catch-up?
Delaying vaccination means waiting longer for immunisation, which means being susceptible for longer. This is especially true for infants and children who may be in greater danger of suffering from complications from diseases preventable through vaccination. A catch-up program aims to protect the community by minimising transmission through making a smaller number of individuals vulnerable to disease.
Do not wait for the “ideal” time
Parents may decide against catch-up vaccination because they want to wait for the vacation, get better from the illness or find a convenient appointment. Postponing vaccination unnecessarily may result in more time spent unprotected. The best approach is to assess the immunisation record with a healthcare professional and develop an individual catch-up plan.
Missing a vaccine dose does not mean that there is no need to continue with the immunisation process. In most cases, one just needs to continue the vaccination course. In case you or your child missed one or several vaccinations, keep track of the vaccination records and consult a healthcare professional. Do not attempt to re-vaccinate without a doctor's advice. A catch-up plan will help regain protection quickly and prevent missing important vaccinations in the future.
The author is a consultant in Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital®, Delhi.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
