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Childhood vaccinations
The UK childhood vaccination programme
Childhood vaccination programme
Vaccinations are the most efficient means of controlling infections.
The UK vaccination programme has evolved over the past 50 years, and has successfully reduced the diseases included in the programme, to a very low level.
The WHO and UNICEF is promoting childhood vaccination programmes in developing countries with huge success. However, many countries in Asia, Africa and South America still have vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, measles and polio at higher rates than in the UK. Children who has not followed the recommended childhood vaccination programme, therefore has an increased risk of acquiring these diseases when travelling abroad.
We recommend that children are vaccinated against the diseases covered by the childhood vaccination programme, and if this is not the case, we suggest that vaccination is discussed with a physician before departure.
The UK childhood vaccination programme as per 1 January 2002
2, 3 and 4 months of age
DTP-Hib (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough)-Haemophilus influenza (a type of bacterial meningitis).Polio (oral)Meningitis C (a type of bacterial meningitis)
13 to 15 months of age
MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella (German measles)).
3 to 5 years of age, preschool
DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis)Polio (oral)MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella (German measles)).
10 to 14 years of age
BCG (Tuberculosis)
13 to 18 years of age
DT (Diphtheria-Tetanus)Polio (oral)
Facts and fiction about childhood vaccinations
The natural infection strengthen the immune system.
There is no data, which suggest that we are more resistant later in life after the natural infection.
Contrary, infections like measles give a severely reduced immunity during the infection and the following weeks.
All the infections in the childhood vaccination programme can give long lasting, chronic infections and/or complications.
There are many side effects
All vaccines have side effects, but they are very rare. In general severe side effects compared to serious complications and deaths from the natural diseases, show that the vaccines are saving at least 100-times more severe complications than may be seen from adverse reactions.
Edited 30. November 2003
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