1. Immunization protects against several dangerous diseases. A child who is not immunized is more likely to become undernourished, to become disabled, and to die.

2. Immunization is urgent. In the first two years of child's life, he/she should be immunized against 10 dangerous childhood diseases.

3. A booster dose should be given after the child completes his/her immunization of the first year.

4. It is safe to immunize a sick child.

5. Every woman between the ages of 15 and 44 should be fully immunized against tetanus.

6. Every woman should receive a single dose of Rubella vaccine.

Immunization protects against several dangerous diseases. A child who is not immunized is more likely to become undernourished, to become disabled, and to die.

• The Expanded Program of Immunization protects children against 10 of the most dangerous diseases of childhood. A child is immunized by vaccines, which are injected or given by mouth. The vaccines work by building up the child's defenses. A child should be immunized before the disease germs strike.

• A child who is not immunized is very likely to get measles and whooping cough. These diseases can kill. But they weaken even children who survive these diseases. They may not grow well. And they may die later from malnutrition or other illnesses.

• Measles is an important cause of malnutrition, poor mental growth and blindness.

• A non-immunized child will almost certainly be infected with the poliovirus. And for every 200 children, who are infected, one will be crippled for life.

• Tetanus germs grow in dirty cuts and kill most of the people who become infected - if they are not immunized.

• Breastfeeding is a kind of natural immunization against several diseases. Some of the mother's resistance to disease is passed to the child in her breastmilk, and especially in the thick yellow milk (called colostrum) which is produced during the first few days after the birth. But this immunity is not permanent, so immunization is a must.

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Immunization is urgent. In the first two years of child's life, he/she should be immunized against 10 dangerous childhood diseases.

• It is vital to immunize children early in life. Half of all deaths from whooping cough, one third of all cases of polio, and a quarter of all deaths from measles, occur before the age of one year.

• It is vital for infants to complete the full course of immunizations, otherwise the vaccines may not work. Some vaccines need to be given only once. Others have to be given three times, with a gap of at least four weeks between each dose.

• The important thing for parents to know is that a child should be taken for immunization in the first year of life as per the schedule mentioned in the child health card.

• If for any reason a child has not been fully immunized in the first year of life, it is vital to have the child immunized as soon as possible.

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A booster dose should be given after the child completes his / her immunization in the first year.

• In the second year, a child should receive booster doses as per the schedule mentioned in the child health card.

• Students in different levels should receive booster doses as follows:

• In first primary: students should receive a booster dose of DT vaccine (Diphtheria and Tetanus) and Polio.

• In sixth primary: students should receive a booster dose of Td adult (Diphtheria and Tetanus).

• In second secondary: students should receive a booster dose of Tetanus Toxoid and Polio.

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It is safe to immunize a sick child.

• One of the main reasons why parents do not bring their children for immunization is that the child has a fever, cough, cold, diarrhea or other mild illness on the day the child is to be immunized. Even if the child with a case of mild illness or malnutrition is brought for immunization, health workers may advise against giving the injections. This is wrong advice. It is now known that it is safe to immunize a child who is suffering from a minor illness or malnutrition.

• After an injection the child may cry, develop a fever, a rash, or a small sore. As with any illness, a child should be given plenty of food and liquids. Breastfeeding is especially helpful. If the problem seems serious or lasts more than three days, the child should be taken to a health center.

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Every woman between the ages of 15 and 44 should be fully immunized against tetanus.

• In many parts of the world, mothers give birth in unhygienic conditions. This puts both mother and child at risk from tetanus, a major killer of the newborn. If the mother is not immunized against tetanus, then one baby in every 100 will die from the disease.

• All women of childbearing age should be immunized against tetanus. All women who become pregnant should check to make sure they have been immunized against tetanus. In this way, both mothers and their newborn babies will be protected.

• If the woman is not already immunized, a first dose of tetanus vaccine should be given as soon as she becomes pregnant. The second dose can be given four weeks after the first. This second dose should be given before the last two weeks of the pregnancy. A third dose should be given 6 months after the second dose followed by fourth dose after one year and fifth dose after another year. Another booster dose should be given after 10 years from last dose.

• These doses protect the mother and her newborn babies from Tetanus in the first few weeks of life.

• If a girl or a woman has been vaccinated five times against tetanus, then she is protected against the disease throughout her years of childbearing. Any children she may then have will also be protected for the first few weeks of life.

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Every woman should receive a single dose of Rubella vaccine.

• Rubella infection during pregnancy may cause congenital malformations in babies. Hence all girls and women should receive one dose vaccine in their life to prevent Rubella and congenital malformations in their babies.

• All women, who didn't receive rubella vaccine, should be given it immediately or within 24 hours after delivery.

• It is important to avoid pregnancy within 3 months of receiving rubella vaccine.

Schedule of Immunization of children  under 2 years in Oman 

The following schedule will start from 1^st September 2001

 First Year of Age

 Six Primary

 Second Secondary