Vaccines

There is a structured vaccination programme in place within the UK. This programme is available for all children and babies and listed below for your reference. Please also note that below the vaccination programme there are definitions for all the vaccinations and related illnesses.


UK Vaccination Programme

At 2 months old
DTP (triple vaccine)
HiB
Meningitis C
Polio

At 3 months
DTP (triple vaccine)
HiB
Meningitis C
Polio

At 4 months
DTP (triple vaccine)
HiB
Meningitis C
Polio

At 12-15 months
MMR (triple vaccine)

At 3-4 years (ideally pre-school)
DTP (triple vaccine)
MMR (triple vaccine)
Polio

At 11-13 years
BCG

At 13-16 years
Diptheria
Tetanus
Polio


Definitions:

DPT
DPT stands for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping cough). It is a triple vaccination.

Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease and is still prevalent in underdeveloped countries. Although it rarely occurs in developed countries due to the immunisation programmes, it still has a fatality rate of approximately 10%.

Tetanus
Tetanus is also known as lockjaw. Tetanus is a bacterial disease that is easily transferred through cuts, grazes and broken skin in general. The infection can develop in wounds and affect the central nervous system.

Pertussis
Also known as Whooping Cough. Whooping Cough is a serious bacterial infection of the respiratory system. For full details please see notes on whooping cough.

Hib
Vaccination against the bacteria haemophilus influenzae, type B, which is a factor in meningitis.

Meningitis C
vaccination against meningitis.

Polio
Polio is a serious infectious disease spread through bacteria. It can lead to paralysis or death if left untreated.

MMR
The well known triple vaccine against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles). For further details on the illnesses please refer to the notes on each illness.

BCG
Stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine. It is a vaccine against tuberculosis which is a bacterial infection that still kills over 3 million people per year around the world. However due to the vaccine there is no great risk at all in developing countries.