Protection Against Childhood Illnesses

Why should I immunise my child?

Immunisation is a way of protecting your child against serious disease. Once children have been immunised their bodies can fight those diseases if they come into contact with them.

If a child is not immunised they will be at risk from catching the disease and will rely on other people immunising their children to avoid becoming infected.

There will always be some children who are left unprotected because:
** they cannot be immunised for medical reasons
** they are too young to be immunised
** they cannot get to the vaccine services
** for a few, the vaccine doesn't work.

However, if more people choose not to immunise their children, then the number of children at risk of catching a disease will increase and outbreaks of the disease will occur.

The only time to stop immunising children is when a disease has been eradicated worldwide. When every country had eliminated smallpox in 1979 for example, immunisation against the disease was stopped. It is hoped that polio will soon be eradicated and measles may follow.

Newborn Babies

Newborn babies have some immunity to disease passed on to them from their mothers.

In the last three months of pregnancy, some antibodies pass through the placenta from the mother to the unborn baby.

The amount and types of antibodies depend on the mother's immunity.

The protection given to the baby by these antibodies varies.

For example, a mother's antibodies to measles usually protect her baby against the disease for 6-12 months, but those against other diseases, such as whooping cough and Hib, only last a few weeks.

This is why the immunisation schedule starts at 2 months of age.

Premature babies

Babies who were born early are at greater risk from infections than babies born on time.

This is because their immune systems are less mature, and also they do not have as many antibodies passed on to them from their mothers.

Premature babies tend to be at greater risk of infection than full-term babies. Therefore it is important that premature babies receive their vaccines according to the recommended schedule.

Many scientific studies have shown that giving premature babies vaccines according to the recommended schedule is safe and effective.

View the recommended schedule

Visit the NHS Immunisation web site, here