What is immunisation?

For certain infectious diseases like measles or mumps, once a person has had them and recovered they are almost certain never to catch that disease again. This is because when you get an infectious disease your body makes antibodies against that disease which means that if you are ever exposed to it again – your antibodies in your blood will kill off the bugs before they have any effect.

A paediatrician explains how immunisation works.

Age at interview 49

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In the UK, babies and young children are routinely immunised against several different infectious diseases. Immunisation of children in the UK is not compulsory as it is in some other countries so parents choose whether or not to have their child immunised. However, there are very good reasons why we immunise children (see ‘Why do we immunise?’).

Safety is always the primary concern in designing a vaccine, and is the first thing that is tested when a new vaccine is going through clinical trials. All potential problems of any kind are thoroughly investigated and excluded before clinical trials are started on children.

A paediatrician talks about the safety of vaccines.

Age at interview 49

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The Immunisation programme in the United Kingdom aims to give children the best possible protection against the widest range of infectious diseases. The recommended immunisations that children should have are as follows:

Age when vaccine is recommended What vaccine is given No. of
injections
Pregnant mothers Whooping cough (pertussis)
(Pregnant mothers are now given a whooping cough vaccination between 28-38 weeks to help protect the baby from developing whooping cough in their first few weeks of life. Babies are not vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old.)
One injection
Two months old Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/ Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib)
known as the 5-1

& Pneumococcal (PVC) vaccine
& Rotavirus vaccine
& Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine

One injection

One injection
Oral vaccine
One injection

Three months old Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/ Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) (2nd dose)
known as the 5-1

& Meningococcal C (Men C) vaccine
& Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)

One injection

One injection

Oral vaccine

Four months old Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/ Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) (3rd dose)
known as the 5-1

& Pneumococcal (PVC) vaccine (2nd dose)
& Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine (2nd dose)

One injection

One injection

One injection

Between 12 and 13 months of age

Meningococcal C (Men C) vaccine (2nd dose) & Hib booster (4th dose)

& Pneumococcal (PVC) vaccine (third dose)
& Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine
& Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine (3rd dose)

One injection

One injection

One injection

One injection

Between 2 and 6 years old (including children in school years 1 and 2) The existing flu immunisation programme will be extended over a number of years to include all children aged two to 16 inclusive. One injection
Between 3 years, 4 months and 5 years

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/ and Polio (DTaP/IPV) known as the 4-1 (pre-school booster)

& MMR booster (2nd dose)

One injection

One injection

Girls aged 12 -13 years Human Papilloma virus (HPV) Vaccine Three injections
13 to 18 years

Tetanus/diphtheria (adult type)/Inactivated Polio Vaccine (Td/IPV) 3-1

& Meningococcal ACWY vaccine

One injection

One injection

19-25 years (first-time students only Meningococcal ACWY vaccine One injection

The immunisation clinics that you will be asked to attend with your baby are run by the general practice where you and your child are registered. You should receive an appointment letter when your child’s immunisation is due. If you have any questions about your child’s immunisations talk to your GP or health visitor. Details of your baby’s immunisation schedule will also be available to you in your ‘parent held’ – Child Health Record. The immunisations for teenagers are usually arranged in schools.

Immunisation

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Why do we immunise?

{media 47158} There are three reasons why we immunise children. First, immunisation prevents children from becoming ill with unpleasant and serious infectious diseases, which have...