Do I need to have my baby immunised?
Immunisations have a long-established record of helping to limit the spread of childhood diseases and protect babies and children. There is no proven alternative for giving your child the protection from these diseases that immunisations provide, and although some of the diseases babies are usually immunised against are no longer very common, there is evidence that they enjoy a resurgence when the take-up of vaccinations falls.
That said, many parents are worried about the risks of possible side effects, the MMR injection in particular is mistrusted by some, others feel pressured by their health providers to give their children the immunisations.
 |
Useful links
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
If you're unsure about any injections then ask your doctor or health visitor to give you more information, and preferably written information that you can take away to digest. Remember that you don't have to have your child vaccinated, although in many cases you would be wise to. The Which Guide to Health occasionally publishes in-depth articles looking at various immunisations. Other useful sources of online information on vaccinations can be found in the box on the right.
If you do object to the MMR jab then your choice isn't just a simple either or - you can also opt for individual jabs for your baby for measles and mumps. However, the single-version vaccine is not available in the UK for rubella and individual vaccinations are more expensive than the all-in-one jab and aren't offered on the NHS and so will usually need to be arranged privately.
What about inherited immunity?
When your baby is first born she will be protected from many of the diseases that you, the mother, are immune to, as some antibodies are passed through the placenta from mother to baby in the womb. However, this protection is only temporary and starts to fade in the weeks following birth, which is why doctors recommend that you start your baby's programme of immunisations when your child is two months old.
The first immunisation usually includes whooping cough and Hib, because immunity to these diseases fades fastest in newborns. Passive immunity to measles, mumps and rubella however, usually lasts about a year - which is why the MMR jab is given around 13 months.
Can breastfeeding help?
Yes, breastfeeding can help provide important protection for your baby from infections and diseases, prolonging the passive protection that your baby has at birth. Breastmilk is rich in antibodies, particularly the colostrum of the first few days, and protects your baby from all kinds of illnesses and allergies. But your baby still isn't making the antibodies herself, meaning that the level of protection will fade over time and so doesn't replace the long-term protection of vaccinations.
The immunisations schedule
The NHS has a schedule for giving babies and toddlers a programme of vaccinations and your health visitor or clinic will usually prompt you to book appointments at the right time. The vaccination programme isn't completed until secondary school, but here are the vaccinations usually given to pre-schoolers.
At two, three and four months old
-
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccine and Hib (DTaP/IPV/Hib, given to protect against a bacterial infection which can bring on meningitis, blood poisoning or pneumonia) - Given as one injection.
-
Meningitis C - Given as one injection.
At around 13 months
-
MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) - Given as one injection.
At around 3 to 5 years (pre-school)
-
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whoooping cough), inactivated polio vaccine (DTaP/IPV) - Given as one injection.
-
MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles)- Given as one injection.
Other possible vaccinations
Babies considered at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) may now be given the BCG vaccination soon after birth. This is part of a new targeted vaccination programme brought in in September 2005.
