Immunisation
Immunisations can help to provide greater resistance to common and dangerous illnesses such as flu, tuberculosis and measles. It is common to have immunisations at an early age, as children are more at risk of developing conditions as a result of an under developed immune system.
Programme of Immunisations
The following outline will provide information on common immunisations, including when they are usually offered and the condition which they help to prevent.
Routine Vaccinations
DTaP/IPV/Hib and PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine): this vaccine is given at the age of 2, 3 and 4 months and 3 years 4 months and helps to combat and prevent illnesses including diphtheria, tetanus, whopping cough, polio, Haemophilus influenza type B and pneumococcal infection.
Meningitis C: this vaccine is given in addition to the DTaP/IPV/Hib and PCV vaccinations at the age of 3 and 4 months.
Meningitis and Hib: these vaccines are also given at the age of 12 months.
MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) and PCV: these immunisations are offered to children at the age of 13 months old; they fight measles, mumps and rubella and pneumococcal infections. There has been some controversy surrounding the safety of this immunisation in recent years; however, risks are minimal and measles is on the increase due to a lack of children having the MMR injection. The second dose of MMR is administered at the age of 3 years and 4 months.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) immunisation: this vaccine helps to prevent cervical cancer and is offered to girls aged between 12 and 13; this immunisation is new and has only been introduced in the last few months.
Td/IPV: this is the final dose of the immunisation which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. It is given to children aged between 13 and 18.
Non Routine vaccinations
BCG: the BCG immunisation is given to protect against tuberculosis (TB). Until recently, most children were offered the BCG at the age of 13; it is now not included as a routine immunisation as the risk of contracting tuberculosis in the U.K is minimal. You may need to have a BCG if you are travelling to a country where the incidence of tuberculosis is high. BCGs may also be given at birth to babies who are at a high risk of contracting TB.
Hepatitis B: The hepatitis B immunisation may be offered to babies whose mother tests positive for the condition; this is fairly rare.
Travel Vaccinations
If you are travelling to different parts of the world it may be necessary to have a number of different immunisations. Some of the most common vaccinations are outlined below:
Hepatitis A: hepatitis A vaccinations should be given to those travelling outside of Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Hepatitis A is a virus which infects the liver and can be extremely serious. It is passed on through contact with human faeces; this is usually by means of unclean water supplies or food.
Polio: all babies in the U.K are vaccinated against polio; however you many need a booster if you haven’t been immunised in the last 10 years or you have never been given a polio vaccine. Polio is potentially life-threatening.
Tetanus: all babies in the U.K are vaccinated against tetanus; however you will need to have a booster jab if you haven’t been immunised against the disease in the last 10 years or if you have never had a tetanus vaccine. The tetanus vaccine is recommended for all travellers.
Typhoid: typhoid vaccinations are recommended for those travelling to Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Typhoid is caused by a bacterial infection which is passed on through human faeces and unclean water supplies.
Yellow Fever: this vaccination is needed only for travel to Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Yellow fever is a serious viral infection which is passed onto humans by infected mosquitoes.