Many parents of children ask: Doctor, can children with precocious heart disease be vaccinated? In fact, most children with precocious heart disease should be vaccinated according to the normal routine, and only a small percentage of children with precocious heart disease cannot be vaccinated.
How the heart functions is the key
The vast majority of children with congenital heart disease can be vaccinated according to the standard vaccination schedule. In children with congenital heart disease who do not have altered heart function, vaccination will not have a serious impact on children with congenital heart disease.
In contrast, these children are more susceptible to diseases (such as pneumonia) than healthy children because of their heart defects, and when they do contract a disease, it is more difficult to cure, so vaccination is more appropriate. For example, small ventricular septal defects, atrial septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary valve stenosis should all be vaccinated as standard on a schedule if they do not have cardiac insufficiency.
Only those children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (e.g., tetralogy of Fallot or other complex malformations), or those with congenital heart disease who have developed cardiac dysfunction, should not be vaccinated. For children who have undergone radical surgery for congenital heart disease, they need to wait for complete recovery of heart function (about six months) before vaccination can be administered. Therefore, there is no theoretical basis for this statement that vaccination cannot be given for congenital heart disease.
Precautions for vaccination of children with precocious heart disease
In addition to the regular physical examination, children with precocious heart disease should undergo a strict cardiac specialist examination, including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and cardiac ultrasound, before vaccination, and only with the consent of a cardiologist.
1. Vaccination time
After 3 months after precordial surgery, if the heart function is good after re-examination, vaccination should be done according to the normal procedure. Pre-operative vaccination should be done according to medical advice and close observation should be paid attention to.
2.Growth and development
The baby’s growth and development are normal, with height and weight in the normal range, not lower than the local standard for normal children of the same age.
3.Body condition
Choose to vaccinate when your baby is in good health and does not have a cold, cough, fever, rash, diarrhea, etc. If you have a cold, it is recommended to wait for a week after healing before vaccination.
4.About vaccines
① Vaccine selection
Vaccines are divided into live attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines. Premature babies are weak, so try to receive inactivated vaccines with little side effects and advocate vaccination with combination vaccines. The advantage of combined vaccines is that the number of vaccinations is less, the side effects are less, and the preventive effect is the same. For example, only 4 doses of the pentavalent vaccine are required, while a total of 12 doses are required for a single vaccination. The observation time at the clinic after vaccination should also be longer, such as one hour. The next step of vaccination will be determined based on the reaction after vaccination.
② Interval time
Each vaccine has a certain interval time. Live attenuated vaccines generally cannot be vaccinated with other vaccines within 27 days of vaccination, while inactivated vaccines are within 6 days. The interval between the booster vaccine and the basic vaccination of the same vaccine should be as required.
③No simultaneous vaccination
If two vaccines are given at the same time, it is recommended that only one vaccine be given at a time. Simultaneous vaccination may increase the probability of adverse reactions.
④ Desensitization injection
Consult your local vaccination doctor about whether desensitization can be given in separate shots to reduce adverse reactions. Pay attention to anti-sensitization treatment in case of discomfort.