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Reviewed by Dr Stuart Crisp, specialist registrar
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All children in the UK are offered vaccinations against key
diseases as part of the national childhood immunisation schedule.
The most recent changes in September 2008 have seen:
-
the addition of a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV)
for 12-13 year old girls, which protects against two particular strains of HPV
virus that can cause cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccine will be offered to girls aged 12 to 13 years, in
schools from September 2008. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there is
also a three year catch-up programme that will enable the vaccine to be offered
to other older girls aged 13-18 years old. This programme includes all girls
born between 1st September 1990 and 31st August 1995 inclusive. Details of the
catch up programme are as follows:
-
Girls aged 17-18 years (in school year 13) will be offered the
vaccine in the 2008-09 school year by their GP.
-
Girls aged 16-18 years (in school years 12 and 13) will be
offered the vaccine in the 2009-10 school year.
-
Girls aged 15-17 years (in school years 11 and 12) will be
offered the vaccine in the 2010-11 school year.
In Scotland the catch-up programme will offer the vaccine to all
girls aged 16-17 years from September 2008 and to all girls aged 14-16 years
from September 2009.
The British immunisation schedule
The vaccination schedule covers the following
diseases:
-
Diphtheria
-
Tetanus
-
Whooping cough
(pertussis)
-
Polio
-
Hib: vaccination against the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae
type B, which can cause
meningitis,
pneumonia, blood poisoning and infection of the epiglottis (back of the throat)
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Measles
-
Mumps
-
Rubella (German
measles)
-
Meningitis
C
-
Pneumococcal: vaccination against the bacteria Streptococcus
pneumoniae (known as pneumococcus), which can cause
meningitis,
pneumonia, severe ear
infections (otitis media) and
blood poisoning.
-
Cervical
cancer.
The vaccinations at the ages of two months and pre-school (three
to five years) are usually combined with a routine medical
examination.
At two months
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Diphtheria + Tetanus + Pertussis + Polio + Hib
(Pediacel or
Infanrix-IPV+Hib)
|
One injection |
| Pneumococcal (Prevenar) | One
injection |
At three months
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Diphtheria + Tetanus + Pertussis + Polio + Hib
(Pediacel or
Infanrix-IPV+Hib) |
One injection |
| Meningitis C (Meningitec,
Menjugate or
NeisVac-C) |
One injection |
At four months
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Diphtheria + Tetanus + Pertussis + Polio + Hib
(Pediacel or
) |
One injection |
| Meningitis C (Meningitec,
Menjugate or
NeisVac-C) |
One injection |
| Pneumococcal (Prevenar) | One
injection |
Around 12 months
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Meningitis C + Hib (Menitorix) |
One injection |
Around 13 months
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Measles + Mumps + Rubella (MMRvaxPRO or
Priorix) |
One injection |
| Pneumococcal (Prevenar) | One
injection |
At 3-5 years (usually before child starts school)
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Diphtheria + Tetanus + Pertussis + Polio (Repevax or
Infanrix-IPV)
|
One injection |
| Measles + Mumps + Rubella (MMRvaxPRO or
Priorix) |
One injection |
At 12-13 years (girls only)
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Human papillomavirus (HPV) (Cervarix) |
Three injections given over six months |
School leavers (13-18 years)
| Name of vaccine |
How is it given? |
| Diphtheria + Tetanus + Polio
(Revaxis) |
One injection |
The BCG vaccine to prevent
tuberculosis is no
longer given routinely to school-age children. Instead, the vaccine is now only
recommended for infants and children at high risk of the disease.
Why is it important to vaccinate my child?
Vaccination can prevent your child from getting serious
diseases that can kill or cause long-term health problems.
A vaccine works by containing a tiny part of the virus or
bacteria that causes the disease. When the vaccine is given, the body's immune
system reacts towards the vaccine and forms a protection (antibodies) against
it. These antibodies will be ready to protect your child should he or she ever
come into contact with that infection.
Immunisation helps to prevent outbreaks and epidemics of these
infectious diseases.
What if my child has a fever?
When children have a fever, the vaccination should be
postponed. If your child has an ordinary cold, but their temperature is normal,
it is safe for the vaccine to be given.
What are the side-effects of the vaccinations?
No vaccine is free from side-effects. Some parents focus on the
side-effects of the vaccines instead of the diseases your child is protected
against.
The risk of serious complications from the vaccines is always
much lower than the risk if your child falls ill with one of the
diseases.
-
Allergy to the vaccines is very rare.
-
The vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio
and Hib may cause a red area and swelling at the vaccination spot. This will
disappear within a few days. Your child may get a fever on the day of the jab
and for up to 10 days later.
-
The most common side effects associated with the pneumococcal
vaccine are reactions at the injection site (such as pain, tenderness, redness
or swelling), fever and irritability. Your child may also be drowsy.
-
The MMR vaccine may cause a brief reaction that can begin from
a few days to three weeks after vaccination. Your child may get mild symptoms
like the diseases that are being vaccinated against, eg cold, skin reaction,
fever or swollen salivary glands. Your child will not be contagious. The link
between the
MMR jab and Crohn's disease
and autism has not been proven.
The meningitis C vaccine may have the following
effects.
-
Babies: some swelling and redness where the injection is
given.
-
Toddlers over 12 months: some swelling and redness where the
injection is given. About one in four toddlers may have disturbed sleep. About
1 in 20 toddlers may have a mild fever.
-
Pre-school children: about 1 in 20 may have some swelling at
the injection site. About 1 in 50 may have a mild fever within a few days of
the vaccination.
-
Children and young people: about one in four may have some
swelling and redness at the injection site. About 1 in 50 may have a mild
fever. About 1 in 100 may have a very sore arm from the injection, which may
last a day or so.
The most common side effects associated with the HPV vaccine are
pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Other common side effects may
include:
-
headache.
-
aching muscles or joints.
-
redness and swelling at site of injection.
-
fever.
-
dizziness.
-
skin irritation, such as itching and rash.
-
disturbances of the gut, such as nausea and vomiting,
diarrhoea, abdominal pain.
On very rare occasions, vaccinations may cause serious
complications.
How long will my child be protected by the
vaccinations?
After completing the programme, your child will be protected
from the following.
-
Diphtheria and tetanus: for at least
10 years, or possibly longer.
-
Whooping cough: for at least three
years. However, this is still being studied. If those who have been vaccinated
do get the disease in later life, it is a milder version.
-
Cerebrospinal meningitis: long-term
protection.
-
Polio: life-long protection.
-
Measles,
mumps and
rubella (German measles): would
appear to offer long-lasting protection that is very probably
lifelong.
-
Meningitis C: would appear to offer long-lasting protection
that is very probably lifelong.
-
Cervical cancer: studies show that protection lasts for at
least five years. Further studies are ongoing to establish if a booster will be
needed.
Where can I find out more?
Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist will be able to
answer any questions you may have about your child's vaccinations.
There is also helpful information at
www.immunisation.nhs.uk.
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Based on a text by Dr Vibeke Manniche
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Last updated 08.10.2008
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