Cold Cough Children, Can They Still be Immunized?

The doctor will check the child’s condition before giving immunizations.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Suppose a schedule immunization arrived when the child is coughing colds, what to do? The pediatrician of Pondok Indah Bintaro Jaya Hospital, Dr. Caessar Pronocitro, SpA explained that the actual condition of a mild cold cough without fever is not contraindicated for vaccination.

“Children who cough with colds without fever can still be immunized,” he said in the program webinar held by Pondok Indah Hospital (RSPI), Wednesday (1/7).

Caessar said, before injecting the vaccine, the doctor would first make sure the child was not in a condition of severe illness. If only a mild cold cough, children can get immunized.

What if the child is getting treatment? According to Caessar, most drugs, including antibiotics, do not affect the potential of the vaccine.

Children who are taking drugs may still be vaccinated. But the child’s condition must be checked first, whether the disease is in severe condition or not.

“If you are not in a condition of severe illness, may be immunized,” he explained.

Caessar revealed, there are indeed several drugs that can affect the potential of vaccines, namely drugs that are suppressed immunity for a long time. If the child gets treatment like this, then the doctor will delay giving the vaccine.

“If a child is taking medication, it may be first consulted with a doctor, told what medicine so the doctor can decide this includes those that can still be immunized or delayed,” he explained.

All vaccines are important
Apart from coughing colds as well as drugs, many other myths about vaccination circulating in the community. One of them thinks that some vaccinations are not compulsory so it is not important to be given.

Caessar explained, actually each vaccine prevents different diseases. Some vaccines have been subsidized by the government, so it is better known as hepatitis B, BCG, polio, as well as combo and measles pertussis tetanus (DPT) combo and measles. However, that does not mean other vaccines are not important.

Example, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) which prevents lung inflammation (pneumonia) and inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis). Pneumonia is the number one cause of infant mortality in Indonesia.

In addition, the rotavirus vaccine prevents diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of infant mortality in Indonesia.

“So, diseases that can be prevented by the PCV vaccine or rotavirus vaccine are also important,” he said.

Although these vaccines have not been subsidized by the government, parents are called for to continue to consider them important. Because, each vaccine prevents different diseases.

“If the vaccine is completed, of course there are also more preventable diseases,” he explained.

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