Ensuring your little one receives vaccines on schedule is a fundamental basis for building immunity, allowing your child to grow up healthy. But did you know that besides the “basic vaccines” mandated by the Ministry of Public Health for all Thai children, there are also “supplementary vaccines” or “optional vaccines” that help enhance the protective shield for our little ones against a wider range of diseases?
What are supplementary vaccines? How are they different from basic vaccines?
To clearly understand, it is important to comprehend the differences between these two groups of vaccines first.
- Basic Vaccines (Compulsory Vaccines / Routine Vaccines)
are vaccines included in the country’s essential immunization program, recommended for all Thai children to prevent communicable diseases that are major public health issues and to reduce disease severity. Examples include BCG (tuberculosis), hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, measles-mumps-rubella, etc. - Supplementary or Optional Vaccines (Optional Vaccines)
are vaccines not included in the Ministry of Public Health’s main immunization program but are effective in preventing other diseases or the same diseases as the basic vaccines but in forms that reduce side effects. Parents can choose or consult a doctor to consider additional vaccinations to provide broader disease protection.
Why are supplementary vaccines important for protecting your little one?
Administering supplementary vaccines is like installing a “second layer of protection” to make your child stronger, for the following important reasons:
1. Prevent diseases that are common and cause severe complications
Many supplementary vaccines help prevent diseases that, although not nationwide epidemics, are common in young children and may cause severe complications, such as
- Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) prevents infections caused by pneumococcus bacteria, which are major causes of pneumonia, meningitis, middle ear infections, and bloodstream infections in young children.
- Influenza vaccine (Influenza) prevents seasonal flu, which often causes severe symptoms and can lead to pneumonia, especially in children under 2 years old.
2. Enhance protection beyond basic vaccines in some cases
Supplementary vaccines protect against the same diseases as basic vaccines
- The acellular combination vaccine (DTaP/DTaP-IPV-Hib–HepB) is a combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (and may include polio, Hib, hepatitis B) that reduces side effects (such as fever, pain, swelling) better than some whole-cell vaccines used in basic vaccines, making your child more comfortable after vaccination.
3. Prevent diseases outside the routine program found in high-risk areas
Some supplementary vaccines help prevent diseases that pose risks based on location or specific behaviors, such as
- Hepatitis A vaccine (Hepatitis A) for children who travel frequently or live in areas with poor sanitation.
- Varicella vaccine (Varicella) helps reduce the chance of contracting chickenpox and lessens disease severity (although mild, having it in childhood increases the risk of shingles later in life).
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine (EV71) prevents enterovirus 71 infection, which carries a risk of severe complications such as encephalitis.
Recommendations for new parents
The decision to give your child supplementary vaccines is a personal choice for each family, but the most important thing is to consult a specialist doctor (pediatrician).
- Consult a doctor and discuss with a pediatrician about your child’s risks (such as attending nursery, traveling) and consider the necessity of each vaccine.
- Schedule and plan supplementary vaccinations alongside basic vaccines to ensure your child receives continuous and complete immunity appropriate for their age.
Supplementary vaccines are the best health investment for your child in the long term. Good prevention through supplementary vaccines is a worthwhile choice to ensure your little one grows up healthy, develops appropriately, and is ready to face the world fully.
Dr. Renuka Charaspongpisut
Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist
