Here - Health Promotion Agency

Illness and accidents
HIB BOOSTER CATCH-
UP CAMPAIGN
Between 10 September
2007 and 3 March 2009
there will be a
Haemophilus influenzae
type B (Hib) booster catchup
campaign for children
born between 13 March
2003 and 3 September
2005. These children are
likely to have missed out on
the Hib booster because they
were too young for the
previous Hib booster
campaign and too old to
receive the Hib/MenC
booster now scheduled at 12
months of age.
Most children will be given
the booster when they are
invited for their pre-school
immunisation, but if they
have already had this then
they will be given a new
appointment where they will
receive a Hib-containing
booster vaccine (Hib/MenC).
Further details are contained
in the leaflet Hib: Does your
child need a Hib booster
immunisation? Available
from your GP surgery or
from the DHSSPS website
www.dhsspsni.gov/phealth
106
and some develop a measles-like
rash and go off their food. (For
advice on treating a fever, see page
103.)
● About one in every 1,000 immunised
children may have a fit caused by a
fever. This is called a ‘febrile
convulsion’ (see page 104). However,
if a child who has not been
immunised gets measles, they are five
times more likely to have a fit.
● Rarely, children may get mumpslike
symptoms (fever and swollen
glands) about three weeks after
their immunisation as the mumps
part of the vaccine starts to work.
● Very rarely, children may get a rash of
small bruise-like spots in the six weeks
after the vaccination. This is usually
caused by the measles or rubella parts
of the vaccine. If you see spots like
these, take your child to the doctor to
be checked. He or she will tell you
how to deal with the problem and
protect your child in the future.
● Fewer than one child in a million
develops encephalitis (swelling of
the brain) after the MMR vaccine,
and there is very little evidence that
it is caused by the vaccine.
However, if a child catches measles,
the chance of developing
encephalitis is between one in 200
and one in 5,000.
Side effects after the second dose are
even less common and usually milder.
PRE-SCHOOL BOOSTERS
Between three years four months and
five years of age (before children start
school), your child needs a booster
dose of the diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis and polio vaccine. The polio
part is now given in the same
injection rather than by mouth.
Before they start school, they should
also have a booster vaccine of MMR.
If your child has not had their first
dose, they now need two doses three
months apart.
OTHER
IMMUNISATIONS
BCG VACCINE
Protecting against tuberculosis (TB)
The BCG vaccine is not part of the
routine childhood immunisation
programme. The BCG vaccine
is offered to those babies who are more
likely than most to come into contact
with someone with TB. If the
vaccination is offered, it is usually while
you and your baby are still in hospital,
but it can be given later.
What is TB?
TB is an infection that usually affects
the lungs. It can also affect other parts
of the body, such as the lymph glands,
bones, joints and kidneys. It can also
cause a serious form of meningitis.
Most cases can be cured with treatment.
After immunisation
A blister or sore may appear where
the injection is given. If it does
appear, it will heal gradually, and it is
best if you do not cover it up. The
sore may leave a small scar. If you
are worried or think the sore has
become infected, see your doctor.
Although TB is no longer common
in the UK, worldwide it kills around
two million people a year.
HEPATITIS B VACCINE
Protecting babies against hepatitis B
The hepatitis B vaccine is not part of
the routine childhood immunisation
programme. The vaccine is currently
given to babies whose mothers are
hepatitis B positive to prevent the
babies developing the disease.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an infection of the liver
caused by hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis
B vaccine only protects against the B
type of the virus which is passed
through infected blood from mothers
to their babies, who could then