Vaccinations for Children and Babies

The routine UK immunisation schedule changed on the 1 January 2020.

The change means that via the current UK schedule babies born on or after 1 January 2020 receive one dose of pneumococcal vaccine at the age of 12 weeks, followed by a booster dose at the age 12 months.

Prior to this two doses were given at the age of 8 and 16 weeks, followed by a booster dose at the age 12 months.

The change is due to the success of the immunisation programme in UK resulting in lower rates of pneumococcal related illnesses.

The additional doses of the vaccine are still recommended to protect younger infants earlier.

BCG is the vaccine for Tuberculosis (TB). The vaccine is offered to children born in areas with higher rates of TB or more likely to come into contact with TB.

BCG vaccine is not offered routinely to all children via the UK immunisation schedule.

Ideally the vaccine is given during the first year and can be given any time from 4 weeks of age or after newborn screening results are available.

The vaccine protects infants from the complications of Tuberculosis and so earlier is better but can given at any age.

Children over 6 years of age and some children who may have been exposed to TB require a blood and/or skin test prior to receiving the vaccine.

A reaction usually occurs 2 to 3 weeks after injection and there is no fever expected on day of injection.

A red pimple usually appears at the site of the injection and may ooze. This may last for several weeks/months and heals with a scar.

The minimum interval between injections is 4 weeks and can be longer if your schedule doesn’t allow or you are unable to make an appointment after 4
weeks.

Expect fever on day of vaccines, mainly due to Meningitis B vaccine.

National recommendation is to administer Paracetamol 60 mg ( 2.5mls of 120mg/5 ml solution) within 1 hour of vaccines and repeat after 4 hours and again after further 4 hours. Three doses in total.
Further doses may be given following dosing guidance. Maximum 4 doses in 24 hours and minimum interval 4 hours between doses.

This is due to the success of the immunisation programme in UK resulting lower rates of Meningococcal type C illnesses.

The vaccine is still recommended to protect younger infants. A further dose is given at 1 year of age.

Influenza (Flu) vaccines are usually available from September and during the winter months the UK.

An injection of inactivated flu vaccine is available from 6 months of age. Two doses needed at a minimum of 4 weeks apart.

The nasal spray, live attenuated vaccine, is available from 2 years of age and recommended annually until 18 years.

There are 4 injections in total.

The practice offers two injections per visit, 2-4 weeks apart.

There is no minimum interval between these two visits.

All four injections can safely be given on a single day if specifically requested. Extra appointment time needed.

Two doses are given at 12 months and 3 years 4 months of age in the UK NHS schedule.

The second dose may be given 3 months after the first if needed and is often recommended if there is an outbreak of measles.

The MMR vaccine can given from 6-12 months if travelling to an area with an outbreak, with two further doses needed as usual.

MMR Priorix is porcine gelatine free but MMR Vaxpro is not.

Usually there is fever and possible measles-like rash around 10 days after injection.

Available for children over 12 months of age.

Two doses needed with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses (usually recommended around 3 months).

Possible chickenpox-like rash 2 weeks after injection for which no treatment is needed.

To be given 4 weeks after other live vaccines, such as MMR.

Hepatitis A vaccine is available for children over 12 months of age

Two doses needed, 6 months apart.

If child has not received Hepatitis B already, combined vaccination with Hepatitis B is recommended.

Hepatitis B has now been included in UK NHS schedule.

Infants born on or after 1st August 2017 will have had hepatitis B included in the 6 in 1 vaccine, Infanrix Hexa given at 8,12 and 16 weeks of age. In this case only Hepatitis A is needed as above.

Available for children over 12 months of age who have not received Hepatitis B during first year. Three doses needed, with first two doses a minimum of one month apart and third dose 5 months after second dose.