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Immunizations or vaccinations for children

When we moved to China, one of the biggest sacrifices our kids have had to make are to take additional vaccinations.

Personally, I would only give my children the minimum required number of vaccinations.

Because China is still a developing country where you find hospitals / clinics specializing in tuberculosis (TB), my children have had to take the following vaccines:

1. Hepatitis A – both kids

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness.Globally, there are an estimated 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A every year. The hepatitis A virus is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with an infectious person. Hepatitis A is associated with a lack of safe water and poor sanitation.





2. Japanese encephalitis (JE) – my daughter

Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease that infects animals and humans. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and in humans causes inflammation of the membranes around the brain. Intensification and expansion of irrigated rice production systems in South and South-East Asia over the past 20 years have had an important impact on the disease burden caused by Japanese encephalitis. Where irrigation expands into semi-arid areas, the flooding of the fields at the start of each cropping cycle leads to an explosive build-up of the mosquito population. This may cause the circulation of the virus to spill over from their usual hosts (birds and pigs) into the human population.


Chemical vector control is not a solution, as the breeding sites (irrigated rice fields) are extensive. In some rice production systems faced with water shortages, however, certain water management measures (alternate wetting and drying) may be applied that reduce vector populations. Personal protection (using repellents and/or mosquito nets) will be effective under certain conditions. Eliminating the pig population is often a measure taken in the wake of outbreaks. Certainly, the introduction of pig rearing as a secondary source of income for rice-growing farmers in receptive areas must never be encouraged.

3. Rubella – my daughter








4. Meningococcal – my daughter



Comment: Hmm…if this disease generally affects the African continent, maybe my daughter doesn’t need it?

(Source: World Health Organization)

I feel sorry for my son the most because the last time he visited the pediatrician, he had to take a blood test to check if he’s still got the Hepatitis A immunity. She said that he could skip it if the antibody levels were high but, unfortunately for him, he needs it.

My daughter? I wonder if she’s able to take 3 doses at one go!

I definitely dread having to take the both of them to the hospital, especially when my husband’s not around.