Baby & Childhood Immunisations

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Summary:

Immunisation is a safe and effective way to help the body prevent or fight off certain diseases. Immunisation is provided through vaccinations. Under the Childhood Immunisation Programme, all vaccines and their administration are provided free of charge for all children.

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Charities:

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Organizations	Location	Est.	Services
HSE	Nationwide	2005	Information support services including information regarding vaccines for infants and during childhood.

Information:

Baby & Childhood Immunisations

Vaccines are provided in GP surgeries, in hospitals, in health clinics or in schools (depending on the circumstances). Up to the age of 13 months, a schedule of vaccinations is provided by GPs, known as the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. When children start school, they get subsequent vaccinations in school under the School Immunisation Programme.

The consent of parents is required for vaccinations for children and young people up to the age of 16. Vaccination is not compulsory, but is strongly advised by the Department of Health. You should discuss any concerns you may have with your GP (family doctor) before making a decision about your child’s immunisation.

Childhood immunisation schedule

Age	Where	Vaccine
2 months	GP	6 in 1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) and Hepatitis B dprovided in one single injection). Vaccines against Pneumococcal Disease, Meningococcal B and rotavirus disease.
4 months	GP	6 in 1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) and Hepatitis B provided in one single injection). Vaccines against Meningococcal B and rotavirus disease.
6 months	GP	6 in 1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) and Hepatitis B provided in one single injection). Vaccines against Pneumococcal Disease and Meningococcal C.
12 months	GP	MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Vaccine against Meningococcal B.
13 months	GP	Vaccines against Meningococcal C, Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) and Pneumococcal Disease.
4–5 years	GP or school	4 in 1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio), plus MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
11–14 years 1st year in second-level schools	School School	Tdap (tetanus and low-dose diphtheria) booster. Meningococcal ACWY booster. HPV (Human Papillomavirus Virus) vaccine (2 doses).

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health_services/children_s_health/immunisations_for_children.html [1]

Disease	Effects of Disease	Side Effects of the Vaccine
Diphtheria– contagious bacteria that is spread by close contact with an infected person or carrier and cause a sore throat and severe breathing difficulties.	If 1000 people get diphtheria 50 will die The bacteria release a toxin (poison) which can lead to paralysis and heart failure.	If 1000 people get vaccinated 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given 20 will have a fever.
Haemophilius influenzae b (Hib)– contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person and cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain), epiglottis (swelling in the throat that causes choking), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and osteomyelitis (infection of the bone).	If 1000 people get Hib Meningitis 50 will die 250 will have permanent brain damage or deafness; If 1000 people get Hib epiglottis (swelling in the throat that causes choking) 10 will die	If 1000 people are vaccinated 200 will have discomfort, redness or swelling where the injection was given whilst 20 will have a fever.
Hepatitis B – contagious virus that is spread by contact with the blood or other body fluid of an infected person and causes liver disease. Children have a higher risk of having Hepatitis B infection for life.	If 1000 people get chronic Hepatitis B infection 250 will die from scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
Measles – a highly contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes fever, a cough and a rash.	If 1000 people get measles 1 or 2 will die 50 will get an ear infection 40 will get pneumonia or bronchitis 5 will have convulsions (fits) 160 will get diarrhoea 1 will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) For every 10 children who develop encephalitis – 1 will die and – up to 4 will have brain damage. 1 in 8000 children under two years of age get SSPE (brain degeneration), which may be many years after measles and is always fatal. 1 in 6000 will get a blood clotting problem.	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever. 50 will get a rash six to ten days later (this is not contagious) 1 will have a febrile convulsion (fit) 1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) 1 in 22,000 will get a temporary blood clotting problem.
Meningococcal B (MenB) – Meningococcal B (MenB spread by saliva or close contact with an infected person or carrier and which cause meningitis or septicaemia, or both. (The MenB vaccine does not protect against other types of meningitis.)	If 1,000 people get MenB disease: 50 will die. 100 will have a major disability such as deafness, brain damage or loss of fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms or legs.	If 1,000 people are immunised: 500 will have a fever. 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given. 10 will have a high fever
Meningococcal C (MenC) – contagious bacteria that spread by saliva or close contact with an infected person or carrier and causes meningitis or septicaemia, or both. (The MenC vaccine does not protect against other types of meningitis including that due to meningococcal B disease).	If 1000 people get MenC disease: 50 will die 100 people will recover from meningococcal disease will have a major disability such as deafness, brain damage or loss of fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms or legs.	If 1000 babies are immunised: 50 will get discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever 500 babies will become irritable 10 may get a tummy upset or vomit.
Mumps – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes swollen neck glands and a fever.	If 1000 people get mumps: 50 will get viral meningitis 1 will get encephalitis (brain inflammation) 400 men who have mumps will get swollen testicles 300 will get fever, a headache, and swollen salivary glands under the jaw, and 1 in 20000 may become deaf. Mumps can also rarely cause infertility in men.	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever 10 may develop swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw (this is not contagious) 1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person and cause a “Whooping” cough and vomiting. The diseases can last up to three months.	If 1,000 people get whooping cough: 2 will die from pneumonia or brain damage (almost all deaths are in children under the age of 6 months) 10 will have fits (15 if under 6 months old) 1 will get encephalitis (2 if under 6 months old); 50 will get pneumonia (100 if under 6 months old) 200 will need to go into hospital	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever 4 in 10,000 will cry for more than three hours after immunisation; and 1 in 10,000 will have a convulsion (fit).
Pneumococcal disease – contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person or carrier and cause invasive disease such as pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia.	If 1000 people develop invasive pneumococcal disease: 250 will develop pneumonia 250 will develop meningitis 100 will die	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
Polio – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person or their faeces (poo). It causes fever, headache and vomiting and may progress to paralysis.	If 1000 people get polio: up to 10 will become paralysed Of these 10 people with paralysis: 5 will be permanently paralysed; and 1 may die.	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
Rotavirus – contagious virus spread by close contact with an infected person, nappy changing coughing, and sneezing	By the age of 5 years most children will have had vomiting and diarrhoea from rotavirus. If 1,000 children get Rotavirus disease: 1,000 will get vomiting and diarrhoea. 3 will need to be admitted to hospital for treatment. Young children need to stay in hospital for an average of 5 days, if they are admitted.	If 1,000 people are immunised: 100 will have mild diarrhoea. 10 will have tummy pain. 10 will have inflamed skin.
Rubella (German Measles) – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes a rash, fever and swollen glands. It may cause major birth defects in the baby if the mother gets rubella in early pregnancy.	If 1000 mothers develop rubella in early pregnancy: 900 babies will have a major birth defect (such as deafness, blindness, brain damage or heart defects) if the mother got rubella in early pregnancy. If people get rubella: · 1 in 3000 get thrombocytopoenia (bruising or bleeding of the skin) · 1 in 6000 get encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) · 1 in 2 will get a rash and painful swollen glands; and · More than half of women with rubella get painful joints.	If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever 50 get swollen glands, a stiff neck, or joint pains 50 get a rash (which is not contagious) 1 in 25,000 get bruising or bleeding; and 1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Tetanus – bacteria from soil which release a toxin and causes painful muscle spasms, convulsions and lockjaw.	· If 1000 people get tetanus: 100 will die · The risk is greatest for the very young or old.	· If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever.

Disease

Effects of Disease

Side Effects of the Vaccine

Diphtheria– contagious bacteria that is spread by close contact with an infected person or carrier and cause a sore throat and severe breathing difficulties.

If 1000 people get diphtheria

50 will die
The bacteria release a toxin (poison) which can lead to paralysis and heart failure.

If 1000 people get vaccinated

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given
20 will have a fever.

Haemophilius influenzae b (Hib)– contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person and cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain), epiglottis (swelling in the throat that causes choking), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and osteomyelitis (infection of the bone).

If 1000 people get Hib Meningitis

50 will die
250 will have permanent brain damage or deafness;

If 1000 people get Hib epiglottis (swelling in the throat that causes choking)

10 will die

If 1000 people are vaccinated

200 will have discomfort, redness or swelling where the injection was given whilst
20 will have a fever.

Hepatitis B – contagious virus that is spread by contact with the blood or other body fluid of an infected person and causes liver disease. Children have a higher risk of having Hepatitis B infection for life.

If 1000 people get chronic Hepatitis B infection 250 will die from scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.

If 1000 people are immunised: 100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever

Measles – a highly contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes fever, a cough and a rash.

If 1000 people get measles

1 or 2 will die
50 will get an ear infection
40 will get pneumonia or bronchitis
5 will have convulsions (fits)
160 will get diarrhoea
1 will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) For every 10 children who develop encephalitis – 1 will die and – up to 4 will have brain damage.

1 in 8000 children under two years of age get SSPE (brain degeneration), which may be many years after measles and is always fatal.

1 in 6000 will get a blood clotting problem.

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever.
50 will get a rash six to ten days later (this is not contagious)
1 will have a febrile convulsion (fit)

1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

1 in 22,000 will get a temporary blood clotting problem.

Meningococcal B (MenB) – Meningococcal B (MenB spread by saliva or close contact with an infected person or carrier and which cause meningitis or septicaemia, or both. (The MenB vaccine does not protect against other types of meningitis.)

If 1,000 people get MenB disease:

50 will die.
100 will have a major disability such as deafness, brain damage or loss of fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms or legs.

If 1,000 people are immunised:

500 will have a fever.
100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given.
10 will have a high fever

Meningococcal C (MenC) – contagious bacteria that spread by saliva or close contact with an infected person or carrier and causes meningitis or septicaemia, or both. (The MenC vaccine does not protect against other types of meningitis including that due to meningococcal B disease).

If 1000 people get MenC disease:

50 will die
100 people will recover from meningococcal disease will have a major disability such as deafness, brain damage or loss of fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms or legs.

If 1000 babies are immunised:

50 will get discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
500 babies will become irritable
10 may get a tummy upset or vomit.

Mumps – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes swollen neck glands and a fever.

If 1000 people get mumps:

50 will get viral meningitis
1 will get encephalitis (brain inflammation)
400 men who have mumps will get swollen testicles
300 will get fever, a headache, and swollen salivary glands under the jaw, and

1 in 20000 may become deaf.

Mumps can also rarely cause infertility in men.

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
10 may develop swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw (this is not contagious)
1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person and cause a “Whooping” cough and vomiting. The diseases can last up to three months.

If 1,000 people get whooping cough:

2 will die from pneumonia or brain damage (almost all deaths are in children under the age of 6 months)
10 will have fits (15 if under 6 months old)
1 will get encephalitis (2 if under 6 months old);
50 will get pneumonia (100 if under 6 months old)
200 will need to go into hospital

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever

4 in 10,000 will cry for more than three hours after immunisation; and

1 in 10,000 will have a convulsion (fit).

Pneumococcal disease – contagious bacteria that spread by close contact with an infected person or carrier and cause invasive disease such as pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia.

If 1000 people develop invasive pneumococcal disease:

250 will develop pneumonia
250 will develop meningitis
100 will die

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever

Polio – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person or their faeces (poo). It causes fever, headache and vomiting and may progress to paralysis.

If 1000 people get polio:

up to 10 will become paralysed

Of these 10 people with paralysis:

5 will be permanently paralysed; and
1 may die.

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever

Rotavirus – contagious virus spread by close contact with an infected person, nappy changing coughing, and sneezing

By the age of 5 years most children will have had vomiting and diarrhoea from rotavirus.

If 1,000 children get Rotavirus disease:

1,000 will get vomiting and diarrhoea.
3 will need to be admitted to hospital for treatment.
Young children need to stay in hospital for an average of 5 days, if they are admitted.

If 1,000 people are immunised:

100 will have mild diarrhoea.
10 will have tummy pain.
10 will have inflamed skin.

Rubella (German Measles) – a contagious virus that is spread by close contact with an infected person and causes a rash, fever and swollen glands. It may cause major birth defects in the baby if the mother gets rubella in early pregnancy.

If 1000 mothers develop rubella in early pregnancy:

900 babies will have a major birth defect (such as deafness, blindness, brain damage or heart defects) if the mother got rubella in early pregnancy.

If people get rubella:

· 1 in 3000 get thrombocytopoenia (bruising or bleeding of the skin)

· 1 in 6000 get encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

· 1 in 2 will get a rash and painful swollen glands; and

· More than half of women with rubella get painful joints.

If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever
50 get swollen glands, a stiff neck, or joint pains
50 get a rash (which is not contagious)
1 in 25,000 get bruising or bleeding; and
1 in 10 million may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Tetanus – bacteria from soil which release a toxin and causes painful muscle spasms, convulsions and lockjaw.

· If 1000 people get tetanus:

100 will die

· The risk is greatest for the very young or old.

· If 1000 people are immunised:

100 will have discomfort, redness and swelling where the injection was given or will have a fever.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/pcischedule/vpds/ [2]