Positive Relationships: A parent's guide to ... Immunisation

Q. Why should I immunise my child?

Immunisation is a way of protecting against serious disease. Once children have been immunised, their bodies can fight those diseases if they come into contact with them.

If a child is not immunised they will be at risk from catching the disease and will rely on other people immunising their children to avoid becoming infected.

There will always be some children who are left unprotected because:
- they cannot be immunised for medical reasons
- they are too young to be immunised
- they cannot get to the vaccine services
- for a few, the vaccine doesn't work.

However, if more people choose not to immunise their children, then the number of children at risk of catching a disease will increase and outbreaks of the disease will occur. The only time to stop immunising children is when a disease has been eradicated worldwide.

Q. Are there risks linked to immunisation?

The risks attached to immunisation are relatively small. Having the vaccine is safer than not having the vaccine, whether for individual people or for whole populations.

For example, with the MMR vaccine there is a risk of one in 1,000 of febrile convulsions (fits), but if you catch the measles disease, the risk of convulsions is one in 200 people with the disease. It's difficult to calculate the exact risk of a child catching measles because it will vary according to the level of immunity in the child's community and how much they travel outside of that community. So it is important to remember that an unimmunised child is at greater risk of catching measles, one of the most infectious diseases there is and one which can cause serious complications or death.

Some parents may find it tempting to 'leave it to nature'. However, deciding not to have your child immunised means putting them at risk of catching a potentially serious illness.

The vaccines used in the recommended routine childhood schedule have been very carefully tested. They are used in many countries besides the UK. They are not 100 per cent effective in every individual, but they're the best defence we have against epidemics that used to lead to many deaths and a lot of disability.

Q. When should I immunise my child?

The UK childhood immunisation schedule (see Further Information) tells you when each immunisation is given. It gives children the best chance of developing immunity against these diseases in a safe and effective way and minimises their risk of catching the diseases. Your health visitor, practice nurse or GP should also be able to advise you.

Routine childhood immunisations do not start until a baby is two months old, when the antibodies a baby gets from its mother before birth have stopped working. This is also why it is important to stick to the immunisation schedule, as a delay can leave a baby unprotected or increase the chance of adverse reactions to some vaccines, such as pertussis (whooping cough).

Q. What will happen when my child is immunised?

You will receive a notice of the appointment in the post, and will need to take your child's 'red book' with you.

The nurse or doctor will check:
- your child is well and not taking any medicines
- which vaccine(s) she is going to have
- you know what diseases they'll protect against
- you are informed of what side effects may occur and how to treat them
- you are happy to go ahead.
Feel free to ask any questions.
- The injection is given in the child's arm or thigh - never the bum.
- After the injection, hold a cotton wool ball on the site - don't use a
plaster.
- Make sure they note in your red book and GP records what's been given
and where.

Q. What if we miss an apppointment?

Don't worry, you do not have to start the course of vaccines again. The recommended gap between vaccines is an ideal, but if you miss one, just make a new appointment as soon as you can.

Further information:

NHS Immunisation Information, www.immunisation.nhs.uk

Routine immunisation schedule, www.immunisation.nhs.uk/immunisation_schedule.