Children’s Immunisations

When should children be immunised?

At 2, 3 & 4 months: It is recommended that all babies are immunised against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping cough), HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type B - which is a vaccine against the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children), Polio and Meningitis C.

13 months: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) - (MMR).

16 months: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) –(MMR) 2nd Dose

Aged 3½-4½ years: Preschool booster of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and Polio.

Aged 14 years: Tetanus, Polio and Diphtheria booster (Given at school).

There has been a lot of bad publicity in the media about children’s immunisations but your child will be at much greater risk from the effects of contracting the disease than from suffering a reaction to immunisation.  All of the practice doctors’ children have been fully immunised.

Before bringing your child to the surgery for an immunisation, please check the following points.  If you answer yes to any of the following questions then please inform the doctor or nurse: -

•Does your child have a temperature?
•Has your child ever reacted to an injection?
•Has your child had convulsions (fits) in the past? 
•Has your child had treatment for a malignant disease e.g. radiation, chemotherapy or steroids injection/tablets.
•Has your child suffered from a severe reaction to eggs?
•Does anyone in the household have a disease that affects the immune system e.g. leukaemia or lymphoma.