A baby's first year is marked by her jabs. From that first heel prick test, she'll face a few needles as she grows. It’s a big hurdle for you as a mum but each vaccination is important for her growing immune system.
It's important for mums to know the age at which your baby should ideally have each vaccine and and what each one is for.
Why immunisations matter to your baby
Childhood immunisations aim to protect your baby from potentially serious illnesses.
When you get an infection, your body produces proteins called antibodies to fight it. After an infection your body is usually immune from that infection and this protection can last for life (e.g. once you get chicken pox, you normally can’t get it again).
A vaccination is a watered-down version of the virus or bacteria that causes an infection so you don’t actually catch the illness, but your body can begin to build defences against it.
“People often think a child doesn’t need immunisations because a disease isn’t prevalent. But it’s not prevalent because we’re vaccinated against it, so few people contract the illness,” says Dr Miriam Stoppard OBE.
Vaccination time plan
It is best for your baby to have her immunisations at the correct time, as the earlier she is protected, the better. But there is no need to panic if you delay a jab for a week or you need to have it a few days earlier. What's important is the order in which she has the vaccines and making sure she has them all.
8 weeks
A 5-in-1 single jab that protects against Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib, a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia or meningitis in young children)
Pneumococcal infection
12 weeks
5-in-1, second dose
Meningitis C
16 weeks
5-in-1, third dose
Pneumococcal infection, second dose
Meningitis C, second dose
12 months
Meningitis C, third dose Hib, fourth dose given as a single jab
13 months
Measles, mumps and rubella, given as a single jab
Pneumococcal infection, third dose
What each immunisation is for
- Pneumcoccal infection – A bacterium that can cause meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and pneumonia.
- Diptheria – A serious and highly contagious bacterial infection. Most commonly affects the lungs. Enlarges the tonsils and can cause mild fever.
- Tetanus – A bacteria producing toxins in the blood when it enters a wound. The infection then blocks nerve signals from the spinal column, resulting in severe muscle spasms.
- Pertussis – Better known as whooping cough. A bacterial infection that clogs the airways with mucus, causing a distinctive cough like a ‘whoop’.
- Polio – A viral infection of the spinal cord, which can cause paralysis.
- Hib or H. influenza type B – A cause of meningitis in childhood.
- Meningitis C – Group C meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.
- Measles – A highly infectious viral illness.
- Mumps – A common viral illness – seldom serious in children.
- Rubella – AKA German Measles. A viral infection – usually mild in children.
Find out how to cope with your baby's jabs
