Click on any of the underlined words for further information. Because of vaccination, some of these diseases are very rare, and we have given information about the individual infections and their consequences below. Click on the ‘planner’ below for details of the vaccines offered.
The Green Book will give you a great deal of information as well.
Our children are now safer than ever. Babies, children and young adults, through the NHS routine schedule, can now be protected against 29 different disease-causing organisms (including sub-types). In addition, some children can also be protected against 4 strains of seasonal influenza. Fortunately, these are not all given as separate injections, in fact one immunisation (rotavirus) is given as oral drops, and flu imms are usually given as a nasal spray.
The schedule is grouped into 6-7 sets, according to age and previous vaccination history, from the age of 8 weeks until teenage boosters or university entry, and during that whole time, 15 injections (plus 2 rotavirus vaccinations and annual nasal flu immunisation for some children) are offered.
Some children and young adults are offered additional vaccinations, if they have health conditions, for example, sickle-cell disease.
If you are concerned that your child is not up to date with their immunisations, click here or get in touch with your General Practice Nurse using AskMyGP.
Babies no longer routinely need the meningococcal C vaccine until they are 1 year old, as the previous vaccination campaigns have been so successful, and they only need one PCV (pneumococcal) when they are tiny as well. Smallpox vaccine is also no longer offered as the disease has been eradicated and there is no longer transmission anywhere in the world. Polio only exists in 4 countries now, and the live vaccine (oral drops) are only used where there is a high risk of transmission. Children in the UK are offered the injectable (inactivated) polio vaccine, as they are at lower risk, but as polio is such a devastating disease, it is important that this continues until Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea are free of infection.
You can protect your child against the following infectious diseases
Since the start of 2015, two unvaccinated children have died of diphtheria in Europe (one in Spain in 2015 and one in Belgium in 2016). It is still common in Russia, India, Africa, South East Asia and South America.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, at 3 years 4 months and teenage booster. (6-in-1, 4-in-1, 3-in-1)
We are very pleased that the NHS now offers all babies vaccination against hepatitis B, which is a very infectious disease, which can ultimately result in liver cancer.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks for babies born on or after 1st August, 2017. If a child has additional risks, they may be offered a booster dose. (6-in-1)
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
This is not related to the virus which causes seasonal influenza, but is a bacterium. Invasive Hib disease can cause swelling of the throat (epiglottitis), severe pneumonia, and meningitis which can lead to death or brain damage. At least 250,000 young children die each year from Hib disease worldwide.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, and at 1 year. (6-in-1, hib/menC)
Most cancers happen later in life, but cervical cancer, caused by HPV, but cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women who are 15 to 34 years old. The virus can also cause mouth/throat/anal cancer. It has recently been noticed that babies of women who have been vaccinated are less likely to get a rare but devastating condition called Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis.
Vaccination at time of teenage boosters, or the year before. (HPV vaccine)
Nearly 250 people a day die of measles worldwide. If you’re not immune to measles you can catch it just by going into a room up to 2 hours after an infected person has left it! It is one of the most infectious diseases known, and still circulates in the UK, largely because some families choose not to vaccinate their children, based on a number of mistaken beliefs about side effects. Not only is there no evidence that these beliefs are based on the truth, there is evidence that measles vaccine does not cause any of the effects that the ‘anti-vax’ groups claim.
Vaccination can be given at 1 year, with a single booster any time from 18 months, and preferably prior to starting school. (MMR)
Meningococcal disease (5 sub-types)
Although there are 13 different subtypes of this bacterium, we can still only vaccinate against 5 of them so far. Fortunately these are the ones that cause the most devastating effects in children and young adults. Babies no longer need the meningitis C vaccination until they are a year old, as the vaccination campaign has been so successful. We are pleased that babies can now be vaccinated against meningitis B, as this used to be one of the worst forms, often resulting in brain damage and limb amputation in addition to the deaths associated with the other strains.
If you are a young adult, you may still be entitled to vaccination. Ask your Practice Nurse for further information.
Vaccination: MenB at 8 and 16 weeks, again at 1 year; MenC at one year and teenage(hib/menc) boosters, MenACWY at teenage booster.
Mumps is a viral disease that can cause meningitis and deafness. It used to be the most common cause of both of these conditions in children. In teenagers and adults, it can cause swelling of the testes or ovaries, resulting in fertility problems.
Vaccination can be given at 1 year, with a single booster any time from 18 months, and preferably prior to starting school. (MMR)
14 babies under three months old died of pertussis in 2012, seven died in 2013, and another 18 died between 2013 and 2016. Babies who survived are often left with brain damage or lung problems. All babies are offered vaccination, as well as people who are pregnant.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, and at pre-school booster. (6-in-1, 4-in-1)
Pneumococcal disease (13 sub-types)
Invasive pneumococcal disease can cause meningitis and sepsis, as well as pneumonia. 15% (15 out of every 100 children) of those infected will die, even with the advanced life-support systems we have in the UK. 25% (a quarter) will have severe, lasting effects on their sight, hearing, and learning abilities. The vaccination also protects against ear infections and throat infections caused by the same bacterium.
Sam’s story
Vaccination at 12 weeks, and at one year. (PCV)
Polio only exists in 4 countries now, and the live vaccine (oral drops) are only used where there is a high risk of transmission. Children in the UK are offered the injectable (inactivated) polio vaccine, as they are at lower risk, but as polio is such a devastating disease, it is important that this continues until Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea are free of infection. Many of the doctors and nurses at LCGP know people who have been affected by polio in past epidemics, and so are aware of its devastating consequences.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, pre-school booster, and teenage booster. (6-in-1, 4-in-1, 3-in-1)
Until the rotavirus vaccine was introduced in the UK, this infection was the commonest reason for babies and children to be admitted to hospital with dehydration (about 12,700 a year). The vaccine schedule has been very effective in preventing cases.
Vaccination at 8 and 12 weeks. NOTE: there are age-limits for this vaccine and it cannot be given too late. (Rotarix)
Fortunately, rubella has been eliminated in the UK by many decades of vaccination. The disease still exists though, so it is important to continue vaccinating until it has been eradicated worldwide.
Vaccination can be given at 1 year, with a single booster any time from 18 months, and preferably prior to starting school. (MMR)
If you get tetanus, there is a 1 in 3 chance that you will die. Unfortunately, because the spores (eggs) of this disease lie in soil, there is no possibility that it will be eradicated, even eliminated from the UK. Protection is provided by 5 doses of tetanus-containing-vaccine over a lifetime, preferably completed by early teenage years.
Vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, pre-school booster, and teenage booster. (6-in-1, 4-in-1, 3-in-1)
If you want to know even more about how immunisation works, this is a great resource: