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January 20, 2025

Do Vaccines Always Mean Injection?

Do Vaccines Always Mean Injection?

Sab bachon ko injections se dar lagta hai, but injections are the quickest and most effective way of immunisation. However, the answer to “do vaccines always mean injections” is No, not all vaccines require injections. Even so, new ways of reducing or easing vaccination have also come up.

1. Oral Vaccines

Bohut vaccines ab orally di jati hai, simply as a liquid to be swallowed rather than an injection. Rotavirus vaccine is one such vaccine which is commonly administered to infants in liquid form. Polio vaccine bhi orally hi di jaati hai via the famous Polio drops, given to all kids under 5 years of age, every year, by government initiatives. This has led to near eradication of polio.

2. Nasal Vaccines

Nasal Spray wali flu vaccine is also gaining popularity globally, because compared to injections, they are painless and a better alternative. Even though it is not widely practised in India yet, it is a lucrative and better option for kids, specially kids who are afraid of vaccines. Flu shots are very crucial for all children, aur agar vo painless ho jaye to aur better.

3. Reduced Needle Fear

Doctors have even come up with fun distractions for babies these days, they play, they talk and aise hi distract the kids so that they don’t focus on the vaccines and don’t fear it as much. Additionally, topical numbing creams or cold sprays can be applied before the injection to reduce pain. Isse a lot of kids ke mind se fear and anxiety related to vaccines ab kam hoagya hai.

4. Combination Vaccines

Lastly, a lot of vaccines are now used in combination, 2-3 vaccines are clubbed together ek single injection mein so that kam injections mein zyada vaccine lag paaye. For instance, the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) is given as a combination.

Isiliye, while most vaccines are given as injections, vaccines do not always mean injection as kuch bina injection ke bhi dii jati hai and newer methods of giving injections bhi yahi ensure karte hai ki your kid does not become a pincushion. Furthermore, vaccines are very important for all kids, isiliye, injection or no-injections, vaccines are a must.

Sources-

  1. IAP- https://iapindia.org/pdf/Ch-11-IAP-Parental-Guide-on-Vaccination.pdf
  2. CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/humandevelopment/covid-19/needle-phobia/index.html#:~:text=Using%20numbing%20cream%20or%20spray,any%20pain%20from%20the%20needle.