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Childhood

Vaccines provide protection against serious infections that could prove to be lethal. They are the safest way of protecting your child's health. Every vaccine is thoroughly tested before being licensed for administration.

Vaccination should NOT be administered if your child has or had:

• High temperature
• Previous severe local or general reaction to a particular vaccine
• Allergy to eggs, in the case of MMR vaccination
• Convulsions in the neonatal period, in the case of whooping cough vaccination
• Note that family history of epilepsy or allergic disorders should not prevent your child from being vaccinated against any of the childhood vaccines.

Vaccines do not cause any reactions in the majority of children. However the following reactions may occasionally develop:

• Temperature
• Irritability
• Redness or swelling at the injections sites
• Note that the risks are far outweighed by the benefits.

Severe reactions are extremely rare and are dealt with appropriately by your Doctor.

In areas where the vaccination uptake rate is low, diseases tend to remain widespread. Hence it is essential to achieve an uptake rate of at least 95% degrees in order to achieve effective or total eradication.

Finally remember vaccination is free of charge.

The following are the recommended schedule of vaccinations in Ireland:

• BIRTH: BCG (not implemented in certain regions)
• 2 MONTHS: Oral Polio/ DtaP / Hib / Meningococcal C
• 4 MONTHS: Oral Polio/ DtaP / Hib / Meningococcal C
• 6 MONTHS: Oral Polio/ DtaP / Hib / Meningococcal C
• 12 MONTHS: MMR Vaccination
• 5 YEARS: Oral Polio / DtaP / MMR
• 11-12 YEARS: MMR (not given if already given at 12 months and 5 years)
• 10-14 YEARS: BCG (only if did not have BCG at birth and if known to be tuberculin negative)
• SCHOOL LEAVERS: DT / Meningococcal C (if not previously given)
  DtaP = Diphtheria + Tetanus + Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  DT = Diphtheria + Tetanus.
  Hib = Haemphyllus Meningitis.

POINTS TO REMEMBER RE- MENINGITITS C VACCINE:

• The vaccine can be given in conjunction with other childhood vaccines (e.g DtaP, Hib, DT and MMR)
• The vaccine is not live and therefore cannot cause the disease
• The vaccine has been given to many children and adults since 1994 in clinical trials in the UK, USA, Canada and Holland
• The vaccine is well tolerated and side effects are generally not serious