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Are there any reasons to delay immunisation?
What if my child was premature, had a low birth weight or had jaundice?
What if my child has a serious disease?
What if my child has asthma, eczema or hay fever?
Can my child get the MMR and other vaccines if they are allergic to eggs?
What if my child has epilepsy or has had convulsions (fits)?
What if my child has recently had, or is due to have, surgery?
What if my child has already had one of these diseases?
Can my child be immunised while they are in close contact with someone who is pregnant?
Do some children also need other vaccines?
Are there any reasons to delay immunisation?
There are very few medical reasons to delay immunisation. If your child has a high temperature, the immunisation should be put off until your child is better. However, babies and children with minor coughs and colds, or those on antibiotics, can be immunised safely and effectively.
If you are worried about whether your child is fit to be immunised, talk to the doctor or nurse before putting off the immunisation.
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What if my child was premature, had a low birth weight or had jaundice?
It is important that premature babies are protected because they are more vulnerable to certain infections. In general, premature babies should be immunised as normal. If your child had a very low birth weight, you should discuss their immunisation needs with your paediatrician. Babies who had jaundice after being born and those who are being breast-fed should be immunised as normal.
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What if my child has a serious disease?
It is very important that children with serious diseases are immunised because they are often more at risk from complications of infections. Children with stable neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome should be immunised as normal.
However, care is needed if the child’s illness, or its treatment, may lower their immunity. Immunisation should be carefully considered for children with cancer or an immune deficiency disorder, or who are taking medicines which may reduce their ability to fight infection. Discuss this with your doctor.
Children who have had a blood transfusion or received blood products should not get their MMR vaccine until three months after the transfusion.
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What if my child has asthma, eczema or hay fever?
Children with asthma, eczema, hay fever and allergies should be immunised, even if they have a severe allergy to eggs (for example, hives (red itchy bumps), swelling of the mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, wheezing, low blood pressure and shock).
Children taking steroids by inhaler or in a low-dose steroid cream should be immunised as normal. If you have any doubts, talk to the doctor or nurse giving the immunisation.
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Can my child get the MMR and other vaccines if they are allergic to eggs?
In the past it was believed that children who were allergic to eggs could not get the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine can be given to children with an egg allergy. Your child simply disliking eggs or having diarrhoea or stomach pains after eating eggs is not a reason to avoid the MMR immunisation, and you do not need to take any special precautions. If you have any doubts, talk to the doctor or nurse giving the immunisation.
Flu vaccine should not be given to those who have a severe allergy to eggs.
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What if my child has epilepsy or has had convulsions (fits)?
These children should still be immunised if their condition is stable.
Some children get fits (febrile convulsions) if they have a high temperature or a fever. If they get a high fever (over 39.5°C) after they have been vaccinated give them paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Children with a family history of fits or epilepsy should be immunised as normal.
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What if my child has recently had, or is due to have, surgery?
Do not put the immunisation off if your child is due to have an operation or has recently had one. Having surgery is not a reason to put off immunisation, and a recent immunisation is not a reason to put off surgery.
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What if my child has already had one of these diseases?
You should still immunise your child against these diseases, even if they have had them. It is important to be protected against all the diseases the vaccine covers, even if the child has caught one of the diseases before.
This is very important as children under two years do not get enough natural immunity following illness with Hib, Men C or pneumococcal disease and so should still be immunised.
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Can my child be immunised while they are in close contact with someone who is pregnant?
Yes. There is no problem with giving routine immunisations to a child who is in close contact with someone who is pregnant. In fact, immunising the child will protect the mother from being exposed to diseases like rubella.
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Do some children also need other vaccines?
Yes. Children who have had their spleens removed or have cystic fibrosis, an immune deficiency, chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease, sickle cell disease or diseases such as diabetes are more vulnerable to some infections. If your child has any long-term illness, ask your doctor if they need to be immunised against diseases like flu or hepatitis A. If you are travelling to another country, remember to find out if your child needs any special vaccines.
Immunisation against infectious disease has saved more lives than any other public health intervention apart from providing clean water.
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