Immunisations, also known as vaccinations, are usually given by injection. Children
in the UK are offered vaccinations against a variety of diseases as part of the Healthy
Child Programme. A record is kept in the Parent Held Child Health Record (Red
Book), which is a book you keep containing information on your child’s health.
Immunisations are mainly given during the first five years. It’s important to have
vaccinations at the right age to keep the risk of disease as low as possible. Don’t
hesitate to ask your health visitor or GP for advice if you think your child may have
missed an immunisation. Childhood immunisations are free and most are given at
your GP’s surgery.
Some immunisations are given more than once to make sure the protection
continues. This is known as a booster, so make sure your child gets it.
If you are pregnant, you will be offered the whooping cough vaccine at your GP’s
surgery. The ideal time is 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy so that your baby will be
born protected against whooping cough infection. You will also be offered the flu
vaccine, which is perfectly safe in pregnancy, to protect against flu.
Babies should have a dose of liquid paracetamol following meningococcal group
B disease vaccination to reduce the risk of fever.
Immunisations are used to protect children from diseases which can be very serious, causing long-term complications and even death.
The protection immunisations offer to your child are worth the small amount of pain.
Check with your health visitor, practice nurse or GP for further information, updates and future immunisations or if your child has a chronic medical condition.
When to immunise |
Diseases protected against |
8 weeks |
DTaP/IPV/Hib and PCV and MenB and Rotavirus
diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping
cough), inactivated polio vaccine, haemophilus
influenzae b (Hib) vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine
and meningococcal B vaccine and rotavirus vaccine
|
12 weeks |
DTaP/IPV/Hib and Rotavirus diphtheria, tetanus,
acellular pertussis (whooping cough), inactivated polio
vaccine, haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine and
rotavirus vaccine |
16 weeks |
DTaP/IPV/Hib and PCV and MenB diphtheria,
tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough),
inactivated polio vaccine, haemophilus influenzae b (Hib)
vaccine and meningococcal B vaccine |
12 months |
Hib/MenC haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine and
meningococcal C vaccine
PCV pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
MenB meningococcal B vaccine (Booster)
MMR Measles, mumps and rubella |
Two to seven year olds (including children in school years 1, 2 and 3) |
Influenza (flu) - nasal spray vaccine in autumn
each year |
3 years 4 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib diphtheria or low dose diphtheria,
tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccine,
(Pre-School Booster)
MMR Measles, mumps and rubella |
Source: NHS Immunisation Information.
*Babies should have a dose of liquid paracetamol following
meningococcal group B disease vaccination to reduce the risk of fever.
See the link for video information:www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/vaccines-and-your-childs-immune-system.aspx
1
Immunisation begins at two months, when baby's natural immunity to illness, begins to drop.
2
The protection immunisations offer to your child against serious diseases are worth the small amount of pain.
3
Immunisations don’t just protect your child during childhood, they protect them for life.