Childhood vaccinations

Some parents are anxious about the possible side effects that may occur as a result of a vaccination. If you have concerns, it's important to talk them through with your doctor and health visitor.

The risk of complications is very small whereas the risk of harmful effects from the diseases themselves is much more serious. However, if your baby develops side effects at any stage of the programme your doctor may delay or stop immunizations. The immunization schedule started in September 2006. Any child who began his immunizations before that date would not have been given the pneumoccocal injection at two months, but would have started with a meningococcus C immunization. This schedule is for healthy children. If a child is unwell the day he's due for an injection it will be deferred until he has recovered. If he has a chronic illness that affects his immune system he will have an individualized schedule.

Age: 2 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Pneumococcus Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib	One injection One injection	Possible redness and swelling at injection site, mild fever; irritability. A slightly raised temperature; sickness and/or diarrhoea, a small lump at injection site that will disappear in a few weeks.
Age: 3 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Meningitis C Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib	One injection One injection	As for pneumococcus As for diphtheria etc
Age: 4 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Meningitis C Pneumococcus Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib	One injection One injection One injection	As above As above As above
Age: Around 12 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Hib, Meningitis C	One injection	As above
Age: At 13 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Pneumococcus	One injection	As above
Age: Around 13 months
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Mumps, measles and rubella (MMR)	One injection	As above and fever; rash; generally unwell/malaise.
Age: 3 years and 4 months or soon after
Vaccination	How given	Reaction
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio Mumps, measles and rubella (MMMMR)	One injection One injection	As above. As above

Dr Miriam Stoppard

New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard

Posted 30.06.2010

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