Why are booster doses necessary for immunisation?

Booster dose is basically an additional vaccine that needs to be given to the child post the initial vaccine. Some immunisations have to be given more than once to build up your child’s immunity. This is because some diseases cannot be simply countered by the antibodies administered in the first dose. Without a booster dose, some diseases can come knocking on the door!

For example, DTaP/HiB/IPV has to be given 3 times to provide full protection in babies.

Booster doses are then given to top up the immunity later on in life to maintain long term protection.

Some of the vaccines like oral Polio requires multiple doses to be given to provide immunity are:

• Oral Polio Drops
• Hepatitis A & B
• Rabies
• Typhoid
• MMR
• Chicken pox

It is important to stick to the prescribed schedule of the booster doses as recommended by your child’s doctor.