Immunizations You Should Have Before Working With Kids
Posted on: 5 February 2021
Immunizations are meant to protect you against various viral and bacterial diseases. Most people get an array of vaccines when they are young. However, there are certain times in your life when it's important to check your vaccine records and make sure there are no additional ones you could benefit from. One of those times will be when you're about to begin working with kids. The following are a few immunizations that you should really have had before beginning work as a teacher, daycare worker, or other childcare professional.
Pertussis
Pertussis is more colloquially known as whooping cough. It only tends to cause mild symptoms in adults, but it can be very serious in children, leading to violent coughing, trouble breathing, and sometimes even death. Even scarier, adults can carry whooping cough and pass it on to children without even knowing it. So, for the safety of the kids you are working with, you should be vaccinated for pertussis. This will prevent you from spreading the viral disease.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
These are three different diseases, but they are caused by related viruses, and there is one vaccine that conveys immunity against all three. People are typically immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella in infancy, but the immunity does not always last. As such, you may need an additional vaccine before you begin working with children. This is mostly to ensure you do not spread these diseases to kids, but it is also for your own protection.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral disease that affects the liver. It is spread through bodily fluids, including blood. Since kids are accident-prone and there's a possibility you could be exposed to their blood while you're working with them, you should be vaccinated for Hepatitis B before beginning work with kids. The Hepatitis B immunization is actually a series of 2 or 3 shots, administered a few weeks apart.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a bacterial illness that causes severe respiratory symptoms. It can cause death in infants and young children. Most cases in adults are not deadly, but they can be very serious and require hospitalization. As such, you need to be immunized before working with children.
Working in childcare is very rewarding, but it's very important to be aware of the risks. Immunization is one way to reduce those risks. Reach out to a doctor if you need one of these immunizations or if you have any questions about them.
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