Vaccinations refer to the injection of a vaccine into a person to allow their immune system to adapt immunity to a particular infectious disease or set of diseases. There have a number of Global Pandemics over the last decade related to Infectious Diseases such as SARS, H5N1 (Avian Flu) and most recently H1N1 (Swine Flu). While not all people require a vaccination against infectious diseases, certain people can be deemed high risk if they become infected with a disease. An example of this would be people with respiratory problems contracting an influenza virus.
Many of the most common vaccines are given to children at birth. You should discuss immunisation with your local GP as soon as possible after your child’s birth. We have put a brief guide together for vaccines that we would strongly recommend.
BCG Vaccine
BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette Guerin. The BGC Vaccine is given to protect against infection that causes Tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is an infection that mainly affects the lungs but can also spread to other organs in the body. The infection is contracted when a person comes in close contact with someone who has the infection and breathes in small particles of infected bacteria in the air. The most vulnerable to contracting Tuberculosis are the elderly, the very young or those with a weak immune system.
The BCG Vaccination is usually given to newborn babies in Ireland. However the vaccine should also be given to older children and adults who have not been given the vaccine and have come in contact with the infection.
MMR Vaccine
The MMR Vaccine is a 3 in 1 vaccine that protects against Mumps, Measles and Rubella (also called German Measles). It is usually given to infants between the ages of 12 and 15 months and again between 4 and 5 years old. Measles can be a very serious illness which can sometimes be fatal. Mumps is one of the biggest causes of Viral Meningitis in children. Rubella usually has mild symptoms in children but can be extremely dangerous if contracted by pregnant mothers. If a mother becomes infected with Rubella during the first 5 months of pregnancy the child may be born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The syndrome can result in a number of conditions including deafness, congenital heart disease and can also lead to the development of an Intellectual Disability or Psychiatric problems.
Children only develop allergic reactions to the vaccine in very rare circumstances. Signs of a reaction include short breath, wheezing, racing heart rate, paleness, rash or inflammation. Children who are given medical attention shortly after onset usually make a full recovery. Other short-terms effects may include Measles like symptoms such as a rash and lack of appetite. Children can also develop brief Mumps’ symptoms and in rare cases Rubella-like symptoms. These symptoms usually clear on their own but you should seek advice from your GP to be 100% sure.