Child Health
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control.
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control.
Here’s a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.
|
When to immunise
|
|
Diseases protected against
|
|
Vaccine given
|
|
Site**
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Two months old
|
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Pneumococcal disease Rotavirus Meningococcal group B (MenB) |
|
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)
PCV (Prevenar 13) Rotavirus (Rotarix) MenB |
|
Thigh
Thigh By mouth Left thigh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months old
|
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib
Meningococcal group C disease (MenC) Rotavirus |
|
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)
Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate) Rotavirus (Rotarix) |
|
Thigh
Thigh By mouth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Four months old
|
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib
Pneumococcal disease Meningococcal group B (MenB) Hib/MenC |
|
DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)
PCV (Prevenar 13) Men B Hib/MenC (Menitorix) |
|
Thigh
Thigh Left thigh Upper arm/thigh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One year old
|
|
Pneumococcal disease
Measles, mumpsand rubella (German measles) MenB |
|
PCV (Prevenar 13)
MMR(Priorix or MMR VaxPRO) MenB booster |
|
Upper arm/thigh
Upper arm/thigh Left thigh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two to six years old (including children in school years 1 and 2)
|
|
Influenza (each year from September)
|
|
Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV4
|
|
Both nostrils
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three years four months old or soon after
|
|
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
Measles, mumpsand rubella |
|
dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV(Infanrix-IPV)
MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given) |
|
Upper arm
Upper arm |
Please note
** 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.
Immunisations for at-risk children
|
Target Group
|
|
Age & Schedule
|
|
Disease
|
|
Vaccines required
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers
|
|
At birth, four weeks, eight weeks and Boost at one year1
|
|
Hepatitis B
|
|
Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B / HBvaxPRO)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Infants in areas of the country with TB incidence >= 40/100,000
|
|
At birth
|
|
Tuberculosis
|
|
BCG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence country
|
|
At birth
|
|
Tuberculosis
|
|
BCG
|
Children’s Health
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
NHS childhood illness slideshow.
When Should I Worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
|
When to immunise
|
|
Diseases protected against
|
|
Vaccine given
|
|
Site**
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Girls aged 12 to 13 years old
|
|
Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11)
|
|
HPV (two doses 6-12 months)
|
|
Upper arm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 years old (school year 9)
|
|
Tetanus, diphtheria and polio
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease |
|
Td/IPV (Revaxis), and check MMR status
MenACWY |
|
Upper arm
Upper arm |
Please note
** 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.
The Meningitis C vaccination will be introduced during the 2013/14 academic year and the vaccine supplied will depend on the brands available at the time of ordering.
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
NHS childhood illness slideshow
Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant paracetamol. If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.
Nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis) are fairly common, especially in children, and can generally be easily treated.
See the NHS Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.