Immunisations

Many potentially fatal childhood diseases have been virtually eradicated in the UK due to the availability of vaccination. It is nonetheless very important that babies and children are fully immunised. Reminders are sent out by the practice.

HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type B) can cause:

a type of meningitisa severe form of croup (epiglottitis) 
blood poisoning (septicaemia)joint and bone infectionspneumonia

Each year about 1,300 children in the UK are infected by HIB and over half of these children develop HIB meningitis. HIB immunisation is now offered to all babies and children up to four years old. We strongly recommend that all children under four receive this immunisation.

Current recommendations are:

The routine immunisation schedule from Autumn 2017
Age DueDiseases Protected AgainstVaccine Given and Trade NameUsual Site†
Eight weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)DTaP/IPV/HibInfanrix hexaThigh
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes)Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)Prevenar 13Thigh
Meningococcal group B (MenB)MenBBexseroLeft thigh
Rotavirus gastroenteritisRotavirusRotarixBy mouth
Twelve weeks
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBInfanrix hexaThigh
RotavirusRotavirusRotarixBy mouth
Sixteen weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBInfanrix hexaThigh
MenBMenBBexseroLeft thigh
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes)PCVPrevenar 13Thigh
One year old (on or after the child’s first birthday)Hib and MenCHib/MenCMenitorixUpper arm/thigh
PneumococcalPCVPrevenar 13Upper arm/thigh
Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)MMRMMR VaxPRO‡ or PriorixUpper arm/thigh
MenBMenB boosterBexseroLeft thigh
Two to eight* years old (including children in reception class and school years 1-4)Influenza (each year from September)Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV+Fluenz Tetra‡Both nostrils
Three years four months old or soon afterDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polioDTaP/IPVInfanrix IPV or RepevaxUpper arm
Measles, mumps and rubellaMMR (check first dose given)MMR VaxPRO‡ or PriorixUpper arm
Girls aged 12 to 13 yearsCervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11)HPV (two doses 6-24 months apart)GardasilUpper arm
Fourteen years old (school year 9)Tetanus, diphtheria and polioTd/IPV (check MMR status)RevaxisUpper arm
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y diseaseMenACWYNimenrix or MenveoUpper arm
65 years oldPneumococcal (23 serotypes)Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)Pneumococcal
Polysaccharide
Vaccine
Upper arm
65 years of age and olderInfluenza (each year from September)Inactivated influenza vaccineMultipleUpper arm
70 years oldShinglesShinglesZostavax‡Upper arm

† Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart. For more details see Chapters 4 and 11 in the Green Book. All injected vaccines are given intramuscularly unless stated otherwise.

‡ Contains porcine gelatine

* Age on 31 August 2017

+ If LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine) is contraindicated and child is in a clinical risk group, use inactivated flu vaccine

Click here for the routine immunisation schedule (EXTERNAL LINK).

Tetanus Infection

Tetanus infection may be picked up from wounds occurring in the garden or street. We recommend that everyone has a booster every 10 years.