Vaccinations are recommended because they provide protection for your child against serious diseases, many of which can cause serious illness and even be fatal. Once we have been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight those diseases if we come into contact with them.
Immunisation also reduces the potential spread of diseases within your local community. Childhood immunisation has had a dramatic effect on improving the health of the population in the UK and worldwide.
The current immunisation schedule includes:
|
When to immunise |
Diseases protected against |
Vaccine given |
| Two months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio andHaemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal infection | DTaP/IPV/Hib and Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) |
| Three months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio andHaemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) | DTaP/IPV/Hib and MenC |
| Four months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio andHaemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal infection | DTaP/IPV/Hib
MenC and PCV |
| Around 12 months | Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Meningitis C | Hib/ MenC |
| Around 13 months | Measles, mumps and rubella (german measles) MMR
Pneumococcal infection |
MMR and PCV |
| Three years and four months or soon after | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio
MMR |
DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV and MMR |
| Thirteen to eighteen years old | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio | Td/IPV |
If you would like further advice regarding childhood immunisations please contact your Health Visitor or Practice Nurse (please tell the receptionist that you want to discuss childhood immunisations) or contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Overseas visitors are strongly recommended to check with their Health Visitor or Practice Nurse at the earliest opportunity, to ensure that your child has received the appropriate immunisations.
Remember – Never give medicines that contain aspirin to children under 16.