Advertisement

Can DPT vaccine be given before 6 weeks of birth?

Prof HPS Sachdeva
Prof HPS Sachdev,
Senior Consultant Pediatrics,
Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research,
New Delhi

Q: I have a new born baby (2 weeks old). He was born in the 37th week of pregnancy and weighed around 3 kg. After two weeks he is 3.4 kg. We took him to the doctor for the hepatitis vaccine but the doctor gave him DPT - 1 dose along with hepatitis vaccine. Was DPT given too early because another doctor mentioned that it should be given only after six weeks of birth and not after two weeks. I am now confused what I should do. Will this vaccine have no effect now because it is been given before time?

A:The correct age of the first course of vaccination for DPT is three doses at the ages of 6, 10 and 14 weeks. The uptake of the vaccine is likely to be lower, if given earlier than this.