Child Health |
Click on the links below
for more information:
Information before your child is vaccinated
Advice after a child is vaccinated
BCG for babies and children under 6 years old
Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme
(Please see the updated MMR guidelines below:
Updated MMR Guidelines
Important information for Parents & Guardians before your child is
vaccinated
- Please remember the RED BOOK
when you attend for your appointments.
- Immunisations MUST be
spaced by at least four weeks.
- If your child is attending with
a nanny/friend or member of its extended family you must send
them with a note from the child’s parent or guardian giving
written permission for the vaccination.
- If this third party can not
provide all the required information to ensure safe vaccination
you must be contactable during the time of your child’s
consultation.
- If your child has been
vaccinated at a private/alternative NHS practice/abroad please
provide our practice with this information by telling the
practice nurse or emailing us at the following address
vax@gp-g85692.nhs.uk
- For more information about each
of your child’s vaccinations and frequently asked questions
please feel free to browse the following website:
www.immunisation.nhs.uk
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Advice
to Parents After a child has been immunised
Please read the following advice on how to care for a child after
it has been immunised. If you remain worried about your child,
please do not hesitate to seek the advice of your GP, Health visitor
or Practice Nurse.
Most children have no ill effects
after their immunisations although a few children do have minor
reactions. For these reactions, you can nearly always deal with them
yourself.
Grumpy and grizzly behaviour
This happens quite often but does not last very long. You can
distract your child and comfort him/her with a drink or some toys.
Slight Fever
Remove your child’s clothes and give him/her cool drinks and infant
Paracetamol, e.g. Calpol (dosage on the bottle). This helps to bring
the temperature down to normal.
High Fever – temperature over 37.8 C
The quickest way to bring down your child’s temperature is to remove
his/her clothes and sponge him/her down with luke warm (NOT COLD)
water. You should give your infant Paracetamol, e.g. Calpol dosage
directed on bottle.
If, after all this your child remains feverish, it is wise to
contact your GP or if out of hours NHS direct or take your child to
A&E
Persistent crying or screaming
Contact your GP, health visitor or Practice Nurse for advice and
reassurance.
Rashes
5-10 days after having the vaccine containing measles (MMR), your
child may feel a little unwell and feverish and may even develop a
mild rash. This “modified measles” response is not severe and is not
infectious.
Local reactions
Slight redness or swelling up to the size of a 10p piece is a fairly
common reaction near the injection site. Sometimes a small hard lump
may form under the skin. Both reactions usually disappear without
any medical treatment.
Any swellings or redness more than 5cm across should be brought to
your GP’s attention.
Swollen face
This occasionally occurs with the MMR vaccination, usually in the
third week. The children with swelling are not contagious. If the
child has a fever, Infant Paracetamol/Calpol may be given (dosage on
bottle)
Convulsions or Fits
Very occasionally, these occur in children with a very high
temperature, 39 C or above.
If your child does have a fit, make sure that he/she is in a safe
place e.g. on the floor. DO NOT put anything in his/her mouth. Stay
with him/her until fit is over, usually within a minute or two. If
your child fits for more than 2 minutes, dial 999 for an ambulance.
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BCG for babies and children under 6 years old
Who should be offered BCG immunisation?
The policy in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham is to offer BCG to all
children up to 12 months of age.
From one year old to 5 years old,
the following groups of children will also be able to get BCG
immunisation:
Children living in a household
where any member was born in a “high risk” area (Africa, Asia,
Central and Southern America, and Eastern Europe and any area
indicated with a recent outbreak).
Children living in households where a member has had TB in the
past.
Children travelling to or has been in a high risk country for
more than one month. Note that Mantoux test will be needed if
returning from high risk area.
Children born in high risk countries and coming to live in
Lambeth, Southwark or Lewisham.
The vaccine takes about 6 weeks to
become effective. This needs to be remembered if the family is to
travel to a country with a high rate of TB and plans to stay there
for more than one month.
Are there any reasons for not giving BCG to a baby or young
child?
BCG will not be given or will be delayed if your child:
Is HIV positive
If a mother is HIV positive, the
immunisation is not to be given until the HIV status of the
child is known.
Has had a positive Mantoux test.
Is having treatment, including
medication for cancer or other serious conditions that weaken
the immune system.
Had a previous BCG immunisation.
Has a generalised septic skin
condition, e.g. infected eczema or eczema at the site where the
injection is to be given.
Has received a live vaccine such
as MMR within last 4 weeks.
Is currently under investigation
for TB.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infection caused by a bacterium. In
most cases of TB infection it affects the lungs. In some cases the
bacteria can also invade the blood stream leading to serious
complications such at TB meningitis but it can affect any part of
the body.
BCG Vaccine
BCG helps protect against tuberculosis (TB). The vaccine contains a
weakened form of the TB bacteria, which will not cause disease. BCG
helps the body to recognise TB and encourages it to fight TB
disease. This is called immunity. The BCG vaccine can give 70-80%
protection against the most serious forms of TB disease.
What to expect following immunisation
A normal reaction after the BCG vaccination is the appearance of a
small spot at the site of the injection. This will heal gradually if
you don’t cover it. If it starts to ooze slightly, you can cover
this with a dry dressing – not a plaster. A scab over the area will
form between 2-3 weeks later and will generally result in a small
characteristic scar in approximately 6 to 12 weeks.
Are there any side effects to BCG immunisation?
Very occasionally after BCG there may be a swollen arm and neck
glands. Very rarely the BCG bacteria can spread within the body
which could be serious. Therefore, if your child becomes unwell or
develops a temperature within a few days or up to six weeks after
BCG immunisation you must seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Should my child have a skin test (Mantoux) before BCG
Vaccination?
This is not usually needed for infants and children under six years
old. However, if they have been in contact with somebody with TB
they should be referred for a Mantoux test. Children who have lived
in or visited a country with high levels of TB for more than one
month will also need to have a Mantoux test before BCG.
What does a positive Mantoux test mean?
A positive test means that the child has been in contact with TB
bacteria; it may mean the child is immune or that there is a current
infection if the child has recently been in contact with TB, and may
need further investigation.
Should other immunisations be delayed if my child is going to
receive the BCG vaccine?
Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenza type b
(Hib), Polio, meningitis C, pneumococcal and Hepatitis B
immunisations can be given at any time, regardless of when the BCG
was given.
If for any reason MMR vaccine needs to be given at the same time as
BCG, it should be given on the same day or four weeks apart. The
Mantoux test needs to be done with a four week gap from a live
vaccine.
BCG vaccination will be given on the upper part of the left arm.
This arm must NOT be used for any further injections for at least
three months after BCG vaccine has been given.
Other vaccines can be given in the other arm or in the thighs.
Parental Consent
Please supply written consent if the child is to be brought for
immunisation by a person who does not have parental responsibility.
For further information, please contact the BCG Administrator
Tel: 0207 318 7814/ 7818
Southwark and Lambeth – contact local BCG administrator
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