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Immunisations

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting your child against certain diseases. The risks from having these diseases are far greater than the risk of any minor side effects from immunisation.

But what are the diseases they prevent and when are the injections given?

Source : www.immunisation.ie

Tuberculosis (TB)

• How it’s spread: TB is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s usually spread by droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• What it causes: In Ireland, TB usually affects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body such as the glands, bones, joints and kidneys. TB can also affect the brain causing meningitis -an inflammation of the lining around the brain.
• Incubation period: Four to twelve weeks
• Immunisation: The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is given to newborn babies in the hospital by injection. This protects them against tuberculosis and its provision has contributed to the dramatic decline in TB over the past 40 years. The BCG can also be given to older children and adults who are considered to be at risk of developing TB, where potential contact with the disease could occur, or has occurred.
• The BCG is not given to the following:
  1. babies less than 5lb in weight.
  2. Babies on treatment for other infections.
  3. Babies with developing jaundice.

Diphtheria

• How it’s spread: Droplets from the nose or mouth.
• What it causes: Breathing difficulties, damage to the heart and nervous system or even death.
• Incubation period: Two to six days.
• Immunisation: Injections given at two, four and six months. This is followed by another one at four to five years and later on between eleven and fourteen years.

Tetanus

• How it’s spread: Via soil, plants and animal bites.
• Symptoms: Painful spasms of muscle contraction.
• What it causes: The disease can be fatal.
• Incubation period: Four to 21 days.
• Immunisations: It’s given to babies in three doses – as an injection at two, four and six months. This is followed by another injection at four to five years and later on between eleven and fourteen years.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

• How it’s spread: Droplets from the nose or mouth.
• Symptoms: Begins like a cold, followed by spasms of coughing that become more and more severe.
• What it causes: Severe cases may be complicated by pneumonia, vomiting and weight loss and, more rarely, by brain damage and death. Young babies are most at risk.
• Incubation period: Seven to 10 days.
• Immunisation: Injection given at two, four and six months followed by another one at four to five years old.

Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)

• Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, chest infections and ear infections.
• What it causes: Complications, such as meningitis or blockages of the throat can set in. It was for this reason that the vaccine was introduced.
• Immunisation: Given at two, four and six months.

Polio

• How it’s spread: Polio is spread by contact with the faeces, mucus or saliva of an infected person
• What it causes: Attacks nerve tissue in the brain and spinal cord and can sometimes cause paralysis. Still very common in some developing countries.
• Incubation period: Between three and 21 days.
• Immunisation: Currently in Ireland, the vaccine for polio is usually given as part of the “5-in-1” vaccine (DTAP-HiB-IPV). This vaccine protects against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and polio. Three doses of the “5-in-1” vaccine are usually given at two, four and six months of age. A fourth dose is recommended at 4-5 years.

Meningitis C

The meningitis bacterium has several strains. This vaccination is against the C strain only, and is given at two, four and six months.

Children’s immunisation table

Children’s immunisation table

Stage	Vaccination	Commonly referred to as…
At birth	BCG (usually given in maternity hospitals to immunise against TB)	BCG (TB)
*At 2 months	Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough Hib Inactivated Polio Pertussis Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV)	6 in one & PCV
*At 4 months	Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough Hib Inactivated Polio Pertussis Men C	6 in one & Men C
*At 6 months	Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough Hib Inactivated Polio Pertussis Men C PCV	6 in one & Men C & PCV
*At 12 months	Measles Mumps Rubella PCV	MMR & PCV
*13 months	Men C Haemophilus Influenzae b	Men C & Hib
†4-5 years	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Inactivated Polio Measles Mumps Rubella	4 in one & MMR
†11-14 years	Tetanus Diphtheria (low dose)	TD

This timetable may vary. You should discuss the details with your Public Health Nurse or your own GP.

All of the above immunisations are available from your Health Service Executive, free of charge

* Available from your family doctor

†These immunisations are generally administered in schools by your Health Service Executive.

Further information about immunisations:

You can discuss your concerns with your doctor, Public Health Nurse or practice nurse. Leaflets about immunisation should be available in your GP’s surgery or health centre, and you may also find the following websites useful:

Health Protection Surveillance Centre

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre provides national figures on vaccine preventable diseases, vaccine uptake levels, advice and information.

Health Service Executive (HSE)