If a vaccine is given when a baby still has antibodies to the disease, the antibodies can stop the vaccine working. This is why routine childhood immunisations do not start until a baby is two months old, before the antibodies a baby gets from its mother have stopped working. This is also why it is important for parents to stick to the immunisation schedule, as a delay can leave a baby unprotected. A delay can increase the chance of adverse reactions to some vaccines, such as pertussis (whooping cough).

Recent changes to the immunisation schedule (2006)

Routine pneumococcal vaccine is being introduced as part of a series of changes to the childhood immunisation programme announced by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. In addition to this the current three doses of MenC vaccine will be respaced at three and four months of age with a booster at 12 months. Also a booster dose of Hib vaccine will be given at 12 months.

When to immunise	What is given?	How is it given?
2 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and HiB (DTaP/IPV/HiB) plus pneumococcal vaccine	Two injections
3 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and HiB (DTaP/IPV/HiB) plus MenC vaccine	Two injections
4 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and HiB (DTaP/IPV/HiB) plus MenC vaccine plus pneumococcal vaccine	Three injections
12 months	Hib and MenC	Two injections
13 months	Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and pneumococcal vaccine	Two injections
3 years and 4 months to 5 years old	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV)	One injection
	Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	One injection
13 to 18 years old	Diphtheria, tetanus, polio (Td/IPV)	One injection

Well Baby Clinic - Baptist Church Hall, Reedley Road - Tuesday’s - 2 - 3.30 p.m.

Health Visitors

 Paula Lewis
 Juliette Bywater

John Milton Clinic - Tel. 950 0133

Further reading

There are some excellent websites that will answer all your questions and queries about immunisation and vaccination. If you are worried about giving the MMR vaccine, you should access the MMR site.

 http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk: This website has been put together to answer any questions you might have about MMR. You can look for information and resources in the MMR library, ask an expert panel a question, and read up on the latest news stories relating to MMR. 

 http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk: The most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.