Which diseases will my baby be immunised against?

Vaccinations are given to babies to protect them against disease and illness. The Centers for for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a schedule for when a child should receive his immunizations. The vaccination schedule begins at birth and continues throughout adulthood. Although some vaccinations carry the risk of certain side effects, the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the risks, reports the March of Dimes. Parents should be aware of and understand how to manage side effects.

• DTaP/IPV/Hib

This vaccine protects your baby against:
Diphtheria. This is a bacterial infection of the chest and throat. It spreads when someone with diphtheria sneezes or coughs. Symptoms include a sore throat, high temperature and breathing difficulties. A severe case can cause damage to the heart and nervous system, or even death.

Tetanus. Sometimes called lockjaw, tetanus can cause painful muscle spasms and stiffness. The disease can be fatal. The bacteria that causes tetanus is found in soil and animal manure, and it can enter the body through a cut or wound. Tetanus can also be caught through animal bites.

Whooping cough (pertussis). This is highly infectious. It's spread through coughing and sneezing. It's like a cold at first, but the coughing spasms, with the distinctive "whoop", become more severe. Babies and young children are most at risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss and, rarely, brain damage and death.

Polio. This is a virus that attacks nerve tissue in the brain and spinal cord. It can cause paralysis. It's now rare in the UK. You can catch it if you come into contact with the poo, mucus or saliva of an infected person.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). This is a bacterial infection of the throat, chest and ear. It can also lead to more serious infections, such as meningitis, pneumonia or blockages of the throat (epiglottitis)

The DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccine will be offered when your baby is:
eight weeks
12 weeks
16 weeks
A preschool booster will also be given when your child is four or five, and again when he's a teenager, between the ages of 13 and 18.

 

• PCV

PCV stands for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It protects your baby against:
Pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illnesses such as meningitis, blood poisoning (septicaemia) and pneumonia. One in 10 cases of meningitis is caused by the pneumococcal bacteria. This form of meningitis is more dangerous than meningitis C, and can often be fatal. It also causes a higher rate of long-term health problems in children who survive, such as deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

The PCV will be offered when your baby is:
eight weeks
16 weeks
13 months

• MenC

This vaccine protects your baby against:
Meningococcal bacteria. These bacteria cause meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia). The bacteria have several strains and this vaccination is against the C strain. Meningitis is a serious illness that can cause long-term damage to the brain and nervous system, and can even be fatal. It spreads when someone with meningitis sneezes or coughs.

The MenC vaccine will be offered when your baby is:
12 weeks
16 weeks
Your child will have it again when he's about one in an injection that also contains the Hib vaccine.

 

• Hib/MenC

This vaccine protects against:
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) bacteria. These bacteria can cause throat, chest and ear infections. It can also lead to more serious infections, such as meningitis, pneumonia or blockages of the throat (epiglottitis).

Meningococcal bacteria. See information about the single MenC vaccine, above.

MMR

This vaccine protects against:

Measles. This used to be a common childhood illness before the immunisation was introduced. It's highly infectious, and spreads when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. It starts like a bad cold. A rash appears after three or four days. Measles can lead to convulsions (seizures or fits), bronchitis, bronchiolitis, ear infections and croup. In rare cases, measles can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

Mumps. This is a viral illness which causes swelling around the cheeks and neck. It can lead to complications such as meningitis, deafness, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and inflammation of the genitals.

Rubella. This viral illness is usually mild, causing a fever, a rash and swollen glands. However, if you catch rubella in the first eight to 10 weeks of your pregnancy you can pass it on to your baby. This is called congenital rubella syndrome, and it can cause babies to be born with deafness, blindness, heart problems or brain damage. Rubella is very rare in the UK, with only a few cases a year of congenital rubella syndrome.

 

The MMR vaccine will be offered when your baby is 13 months. A preschool booster will also be given when your child is four or five.