Immunisation is a process of protecting your child against serious, and in many cases, fatal diseases. After immunisation, a child's body can become capable of fighting back the disease if he/she encounters it. If a child is not immunised there will be a risk of catching the disease and transferring it to other children.
There can be some children who cannot be immunised because of certain medical reasons, and age that they cannot get vaccination, or the vaccine doesn't work. However, if more people choose not to get their children immunised, the number of children at risk will increase resulting in an epidemic. Throughout the UK, there is a recommended schedule for childhood immunisations.



It gives a chance to the child to minimise the risk of getting affected by diseases. The UK childhood immunisation schedule informs you about the suitable immunisation according to the child's age. A vaccine is not injected when a baby still has antibodies produced against a disease, because the antibodies can stop the vaccine to work.
Childhood immunisations do not start until the baby is 2 months old when antibodies transferred from the mother to the child have stopped working. For example, a mother's antibodies to measles generally defend her baby against the disease for 6-12 months, but the antibodies against diseases such as whooping cough and Hib, only last a few weeks.



Therefore, it is important to follow the immunisation schedule so that the baby can remain protected. A delay can have adverse reactions to some vaccines. According to the UK immunisation schedule, the parents are informed for their child's appointment by post. The clinic/hospital must be informed before the appointment if a parent/guardian cannot take the child on a certain date.
Check if the appointment is with your GP or at the local clinic/hospital. Your red book needs to be with you when you go to the place. When you visit the place, report to the reception to confirm that you are there. Before injecting the vaccine, the child's health will be questioned and the vaccine that will be given to the child is told to the parents/guardian etc.



In addition, they are also informed about the diseases their child/children will be protected against, the side effects and their treatment if they occur. Parents can freely ask any questions that they might have in mind. The injection is given in the muscle of the thigh or upper arm. It is never given in the bum. After injecting the vaccine, a cotton wool ball is placed on the site without putting a plaster.
The red book is then updated for records, writing what injection was given and where. If an appointment is missed the immunisation course does not start all over again. If you miss an appointment just take a new one as soon as possible. Many childhood diseases have become a part of history in UK and many other developed countries around the world. Immunisation has been a key factor in achieving this. UK immunisation schedule program has saved thousands of lives giving vaccines against measles, polio and other serious diseases that occur in children.

Kate Gerbich is a children immunisation expert and she has written four books on this subject. To read her advice about MMR Single Jab, visit her recommended website.