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What common reactions can my child get after being vaccinated and what should I do?
Common reactions |
What to do |
| Soreness, swelling and redness in the area where the injection was given |
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| Fever |
- Do not overdress your baby.
Make sure their room isn’t too hot. Give extra fluids to drink. Give paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower the fever.
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| Headache or irritability |
- Give paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains.
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Remember, if your child is very unwell after getting a vaccine, they may be sick for some other reason. Talk to your GP about this.
Children do NOT usually need to take any medicine when they are given a vaccine. However, if your child gets a fever (over 39.5°C) or is sore where the injection was given, you may give them paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Remember, after having the MMR vaccine a fever may happen about 6 to 10 days later, so give paracetamol or ibuprofen then.
The dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen recommended for your child is written on the bottle according to the child’s age.
Please ask your pharmacist for sugar-free mixture of paracetamol or ibuprofen suitable for your child’s age.
Using paracetamol or ibuprofen over a long period without advice from a doctor may be harmful.
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What if my child has an allergic reaction to vaccines?
Serious allergic reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. About one person out of one million may have a serious allergic reaction. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, hoarseness, wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, dizziness and swelling of the throat. If the reaction is treated quickly, the child will recover fully. Doctors and nurses who give immunisations are trained to deal with allergic reactions.
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What if my child suffers any side effects from vaccines?
Most side effects from vaccines are limited to tenderness and swelling or pain where the injection was given or a fever. Children usually recover from these minor side effects within a day or two. Most of these minor side effects happen in the first day or two after immunisation. However, after the MMR vaccine, some children may get a fever or a rash 6 to 10 days later (mini measles). This is not contagious.
The Irish Medicines Board monitors all reported side effects of vaccines. This also happens in other countries so that new and rare side effects can be detected quickly and any necessary action taken.
If your child has any side effects after immunisation, let your GP know so that he or she can report it to the Irish Medicines Board.
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My child was unwell after the last dose of vaccine. Should they get the next dose?
Some children may be unwell after their immunisation. Usually there is no reason not to finish the course of vaccine. However, if your child had a severe allergic reaction (that is, shock or difficulty breathing), they should not get that vaccine again until you know why this happened. In this situation, talk to the doctor about the reaction.
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