Childhood Immunisations Matter

🛡️ Why Childhood Immunisations Matter: Protecting Your Child’s Health

As a parent, your top priority is keeping your child safe and healthy. One of the simplest and most effective ways to do that is through routine childhood immunisations.

Vaccines are not just important—they’re essential. They protect your child from serious illnesses that used to be common and even life-threatening. Thanks to immunisations, diseases like measles, mumps, polio, and whooping cough are now rare in the UK. But they haven’t gone away completely, and they can come back if we stop vaccinating.

🧒 What Are Childhood Vaccines?

Vaccines help your child build strong immunity without having to get sick first. The NHS childhood immunisation schedule starts from 8 weeks old and continues into the teenage years. Some key vaccines include:

• 6-in-1 vaccine (protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib, and hepatitis B)
• MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Pneumococcal and meningitis vaccines
• Flu vaccine (yearly from age 2)
• HPV vaccine (offered during school years)

Each one is carefully tested and approved by health experts to make sure it’s safe and effective.

🤒 But What If My Child Gets Side Effects?

It’s completely normal for children to experience mild side effects—like a sore arm, a mild fever, or a bit of fussiness after the jab. These usually go away on their own in a day or two.

Serious side effects are extremely rare. The risk of not vaccinating is much greater than the risk of a reaction. For example, measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death in some cases.

🌍 Vaccinating Helps Everyone

When your child is vaccinated, they’re not just protecting themselves. They’re also helping protect babies who are too young to be vaccinated, children with medical conditions, and elderly relatives. This is called herd immunity, and it keeps our whole community safer.

💬 Final Thought from Our GP Team

Vaccines are one of the greatest gifts you can give your child—a shield against serious disease, now and into the future. If you ever have doubts, questions, or concerns, please speak to us. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Let’s give your child the healthiest start in life.

Book your child’s immunisation today.