Immunisation Schedule

This schedule applies from 4 Sep 2006 for all children born after 3 Jul 2006

What diseases do the jabs prevent?

D - Diphtheria

Caused by a common bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that is spread by coughing and which damages mainly the airways, lungs and heart. 5-10% of those affected die.

Ta or T - Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Caused by a common bacterium (Clostridium tetani) that lives in the soil and animal faeces and which enters the body through wounds. It causes severe, painful muscle spasms. Death is more likely if wounds are deep or the victim old.

P - Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Caused by a common bacterium (Bordetella pertussis) and spread by coughing. Mainly affects the lung, rarely the brain. Only really damaging to young children - about 1% die.

IPV - Poliomyelitis (Polio, Infantile Paralysis)

Caused by a virus (poliovirus) in food or water contaminated by infected faeces. Usually just gives a flu-like illness but it sometimes spreads to nerves and causes paralysis, especially in older children. Most of the world is now free from polio thanks to vaccination.

Hib - Haemophilus influenzae type B

H. influenzae type B is a common bacterium, spread by coughing, which can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Permanent brain damage or death can result. Until vaccination began it was the commonest cause of bacterial meningitis in children.

PCV - Pneumococcus

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes a wide variety of infections, including pneumonia, and is the commonest cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. Most at risk are old people and people with asthma and other diseases - they currently have the vaccine as adults.

Men C - Meningitis C

Neisseriae meningitidis (type C) is a bacterium which causes meningitis and septicaemia, especially in young adults. Permanent brain damage or death can result.

M - Measles

Caused by a morbillivirus, measles is a highly contagious disease spread by coughing. The illness and rash clear up in most people but some get brain damage and, in UK, about 1 in 1000 die.

M - Mumps

Mumps is a viral disease, spread by coughing, which causes swelling of the salivary glands and, sometimes, the testicles. Complications are rare but can be serious (brain infection etc).

R - Rubella (german measles)

Rubella is also a viral disease, spread by coughing. It only gives mild symptoms. However, if a woman catches the disease in the first half of pregnancy there is a high risk that her baby will be born with a variety of serious defects including mental retardation.

 

 

 

 

 

Useful Websites