Advice On Immunisation
It is very important that all children and babies are fully immunised. Illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus and polio are, thankfully, rare now because of NHS immunisation policies. Whooping cough (Pertussis) causes a very distressing illness with severe prolonged coughing and it is strongly recommended that all babies have this vaccination along with their other baby injections (there are very few contra-indications). If you have any worries or queries about any aspect of your child’s immunisations, please feel free to discuss them with your doctor, the practice nurse, or the health visitor.
The current recommended vaccination schedule is as follows:
| When To Immunise |
Diseases Protected Against |
Vaccine Given |
| Eight weeks old |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough),
polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B
Meningococcal group B (MenB)
Rotavirus gastroenteritis
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) |
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
MenB
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine, (PCV) |
| Twelve weeks old |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B
Rotavirus |
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
Rotavirus |
| Sixteen weeks old |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B
MenB
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes)
|
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
MenB
PCV |
| One year old (on or after the child's first birthday) |
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), Meningitis C
Pneumococcal
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles)
MenB
|
Hib/MenC
PCV Booster
MMR
MenB Booster |
| Eligible paediatric age group |
Influenza (each year from September) |
Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV |
Three years and four
months or soon after |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
Measles, mumps and rubella |
DTaP/IPV
MMR (check first dose given) |
| Gilrs aged 12 to 13 years |
Cervical cancer caused by human
papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11) |
HPV (two doses 6 to 24 months apart) |
| Fourteen years old |
Diphtheria, tetanus, polio
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease |
Td/IPV (check MMR status)
MenACWY |
Tetanus spores are present in soil and may invade the body through injury, often through a puncture wound, but also through burns or trivial unnoticed wounds. It is therefore important to maintain immunity. If you think you may not be fully immunised, or that your immunity has lapsed, please make an appointment with the nurse.