Question
My baby is a preterm birth weight child. During the hospital stay, the doctor said it was not advisable to receive the DPT vaccine. Now that the child is over 2 years old and developing well, is it suitable to receive this vaccine?
Answer
According to our current immunization schedule, preterm birth weight children should start receiving the DPT vaccine within 3 months of birth, with a total of 3 doses administered, with at least a 28-day interval between each dose. At 18 to 24 months, an additional booster dose should be administered, and at 7 years old, a refined diphtheria vaccine or a refined diphtheria and pertussis combined vaccine should be administered for a second booster. The injection site is the lateral aspect of the deltoid muscle of the upper arm or the upper outer quarter of the buttock, using intramuscular injection method.