Your baby will have his first set of immunisations at around eight weeks. Find out what happens and why.

Why are babies immunised?

When you catch an infectious disease, your body fights it off by producing antibodies to that particular disease.

In an immunisation, a baby is given a very weakened form of a disease. She will not get the disease itself, because it’s given in such a weak or dead form, but her body will produce antibodies to it, just as if it were the real thing.

If your baby later comes into contact with the real disease, she will already have the antibodies in her system to fight it off. She either won’t get it at all, or will get it in a very mild form.

Immunisation

Babies will be given a 5-in-1 vaccine, Dta/IPV/HiB. This protects against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and HiB; babies will also have the meningitis C jab and pneumococcal vaccine (see below).

What immunisations are babies given?

Either your Health Visitor, Practice Nurse or GP will give your baby the immunisations, probably at a special immunisation clinic. Childhood immunisations are free. Using a 5-in-1 vaccine, your baby will be immunised against:

Polio

A virus that can cause permanent paralysis or death. Polio is rare in Britain because babies have been vaccinated against it for many years, but it can be caught abroad.

HiB

This vaccine prevents haemophilus B meningitis and a serious breathing problem called epiglotitis. 

Diphtheria

A rare but dangerous disease, in which a membrane can form at the back of the nose and throat, preventing breathing. 

Tetanus

An illness affecting the nervous system; your child will have ‘booster’ doses against this disease. 

Pertussis

Whooping cough, which can be a very dangerous and prolonged illness.

Plus a seperate injection for:

Pneumoccocal infection

A very dangerous illness causing blood poisoning, meningitis and pneumonia. 

Meningitis C

This is one form of meningitis, an illness that causes the meninges (the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord) to become inflamed. There are other forms of meningitis for which there are no vaccinations, so you will still need to be alert for the signs (see 'Your Nine Week Old').

Measles

A serious illness with a rash and fevers that can lead to many complications. 

Mumps

An illness which causes swelling around the jaws, and can lead to complications such as deafness and meningitis. 

Rubella

Also known as German measles, this illness brings a rash and sore throat. If you are not immune to the disease, and catch it in the first three months of pregnancy, there is a risk that your baby will be born with birth defects.

Parents do worry about the risk of complications from these vaccines, but these are very rare. The chance of your baby having a complication is tiny, but the risks from the diseases themselves are life-threatening for a child who has not been immunised.

Some vaccines are produced using eggs, but they remain safe even if your baby has had a reaction to eggs, unless it’s severe. However, if you’re concerned, discuss this with your doctor before your baby is immunised.

What happens during an immunisation?

You will be asked to hold your baby close to you, keeping her arm or leg still. (If you don’t want to hold your baby, tell the practice nurse.) The injections are given with a small needle into the upper arm or thigh. Your baby will usually cry for a few minutes and then settle. Tell the practice nurse on the day if:

• Your baby has a temperature/fever.
• Has had a bad reaction to a previous immunisation.
• Has any problems with bleeding. 
• Has ever had a fit or convulsion. 
• If any member of your family is taking medicines which affect the immune system, such as for cancer or following an organ transplant.
• If any member of your family has an illness such as HIV or Aids that affects the immune system.

Reducing pain

Allowing your baby to suck during any painful procedure reduces the pain he feels. Sucking at the breast has been found to be the best way to reduce the pain to a minimum.

After the immunisation

Your baby may be a bit fretful or feverish, with reddening where the injection has been given. Your practice nurse might suggest giving paracetamol liquid or another suitable liquid medicine to reduce your baby’s temperature and to soothe any pain.
A medicine syringe (available from your pharmacist) is helpful in giving medicines to a baby.

Never give your baby aspirin!

If your baby develops a very high temperature over 38ºC (100.4ºF), or has a fit, consult your doctor at once. If the surgery is closed, go to your nearest A&E. Follow your instincts. If you think your baby is having a severe reaction to the immunisation, seek medical advice.