How To Protect Your Child
There are very few medical reasons for not having your child immunised. If you are concerned please discuss this with our practice nurse or doctor.
Before three months old your child may be offered a BCG injection by the clinic doctor to protect your child against TB. This is available on request for siblings.
Advice And Care Following Immunisations
After any of the following injections, children may be irritable or have a temperature. You should keep the child cool and they should be given the appropriate dose of baby paracetamol to bring down the temperature and have some of their clothes removed. Follow this with a second dose four to six hours later. If your baby is two to three months old, the dose is 60mg of paracetamol. You can get a special oral syringe from the pharmacist for measuring the right amount. Contact the practice if you are worried. Sometimes the skin becomes red and swollen around the place where the injection was given, or a small lump appears and may take a few weeks to disappear. Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal and your child’s next injection need not usually be delayed.
Following MMR, children may experience a rubella-type illness, ie rash and/or temperature 7-21 days following the injection. This is self-limiting and non-infectious and should be treated as above. If you are worried that this is not resolving, please contact us for advice.
Please make an appointment at the reception for any concerns regards your newborn baby. However the surgery will contact you to bring your baby for a routine check at about 6- 8 weeks of age. You will also be advised about the baby vaccinations which start at 8 weeks of age. A health visitor will also make arrangements to see your baby during this time. Subsequent check-ups will be organized by the health visitor which usually takes place at 8 months and 2 to 2.5 years of age.
The schedule for child immunisation is below:
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/
MMR V leaflet (EXTERNAL PDF LINK)