DPT or DTP vaccines are given to protect your baby against the diseases diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis or whooping cough. Whopping cough is a very contagious respiratory fatal childhood disease especially to infants. This vaccine is given to babies in a series of three shots, at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks.
This vaccine can cause mild effects such as low fever and soreness to the area where the shot is given. It is given in the antero-lateral mid thigh never into the buttock to prevent damage to the longest nerve in the body called sciatic nerve.
Things to remember about DPT vaccine:
- Do not inject DPT into the buttock because there’s a greater risk of injury to the sciatic nerve which may cause paralysis.
- It is given at the same time as OPV.
- Inject into the thigh.
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
Bacillus Calmette Guerin, Hepatitis B (BCG) Vaccine
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine