Immunisation

The purpose of immunisation is to prepare our body to fight against diseases in case we come into contact with them. To do this immunisation gives the body a modified, but not dangerous, form of a bacteria, virus or toxin to ‘alert’ the immune system to it. Therefore if the infection is encountered later in life, the body is already prepared to act against it. For example, when your child is immunised against polio the immune system is stimulated into producing antibodies against the disease. Therefore, if your child comes into contact with polio their body will have produced the antibodies to fight it. There are several immunisations that your child should have and below is the schedule for routine childhood immunisations in the United Kingdom. It is in accordance with the recommendations given in Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (1996) HMSO, also known as 'The Green Book'. If you would like to find out more about the individual immunisations please click on the relevant link on the left. When is the immunisation due? Which immunisation? Type At two months Polio By mouth Hib:- Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping cough (pertussis) One injection MenC One injection At three months Polio By mouth Hib:- Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping cough One injection MenC One injection At four months Polio By mouth Hib:- Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping cough One injection MenC One injection At 12 to 15 months Measles Mumps Rubella One injection 3 to 5 years (usually before the child starts school) Measles Mumps Rubella One injection Diphtheria Tetanus One injection Polio By mouth 10 to 14 years (sometimes shortly after birth) BCG (tuberculosis) Skin test followed by one injection School leavers 13 to 18 years Diphtheria Tetanus One injection Polio By mouth This information has been sourced from Health Promotion England.