Question
A 10-month-old child was vaccinated for measles yesterday and wants to take a bath and swim today. Is this okay? Do you need to wait a few days?
Answer
After vaccination, the following precautions should be taken: give the child plenty of water, ensure they get adequate rest, avoid strenuous exercise, do not eat spicy food, and avoid taking a bath in the short term. Sometimes, children may experience “vaccine reactions.” There are two types of reactions that may occur after vaccination: one is a common vaccination reaction, which could be a local reaction or a systemic reaction. For example, the injection site may feel burning or tingling in the short term. A few children may develop a fever or rash between 5 to 12 days after vaccination, but these symptoms will usually disappear quickly.