Childhood Vaccinations

Question 1

What diseases are covered in the DaTaP/IPV/ Hib/HepB ‘6 in 1’ vaccination

Answer 1

Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza type B and Hep B

Question 2

What vaccinations are given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age

Answer 2

Question 3

What vaccinations are given at:

• One year
• 2-9 years
• 3 years 4 months
• 12-13 years of age
• 14 years (school vaccinations)

Answer 3

Question 4

List 3 vaccinations offered early to children at a higher risk of specific infections

Answer 4

1. BCG
2. Hep B
3. Influenza

Question 5

List 4 examples of ‘at risk’ children to whom the BCG is offered to (targeted vaccination)

Answer 5

1. Babies born in areas where annual incidence of TB is 40/100,000 +
2. Infants (0-12months) or Preveously unvaccinated children (1-5y) with a parent/grandparent born in a country where annual rate of TB is 40/100,000 +
3. Recently arrived from countried with a high incidence of TB
4. <16 who have been in close contact with someone infected with respiratory TB

Question 6

Who is the “Early Hep B” vaccination is offered to (targeted vaccination)

Answer 6

Babies born to mothers infected with Hep B OR babies of mothers identified by blood tests as particularly infectious

Should recieve a injection of HBIG at birth

Question 7

Who is the “Early Influenza” vaccination offered to (targeted vaccination)

Answer 7

For children 6months to 17years who have long term health conditions such as diabetes, serious heart conditions, underlying neurological problems and kidney or liver disease, as they are at higher risk from flu

Question 8

List 3 sources of information for documentation of immunisation status

Answer 8

1. The Red Book/ PCHR
2. GP Records
3. The Child health Information System (CHIS)

Question 9

Define Herd Immunity

Answer 9

State achieved when immunisation programmes reach sufficiently high coverage of the target population to interrupt transmission within the community

Question 10

Is relying on Herd Immunity good enough to not get vaccinated?

Answer 10

Herd immunity is not guaranteed to protect people who are not vaccinated, it does not give a high level of individual protection, and so it is not a good alternative to getting vaccinated.

Question 11

Does Herd immunity protect from Tetanus?

Answer 11

Herd immunity does not protect from non contagious diseases such as tetanus

Question 12

List the 5 main types of vaccine used in the childhood immunisation programme

Incl one example of each

Answer 12

1. Live, attenuated vaccines eg. MMR, BCG
2. Inactivated vaccines e.g. Polio
3. Toxoid vaccines e.g diphtheria, tetanus
4. Subunit vaccines eg. pertussis
5. Conjugate vaccines eg. Hib, MenC

Question 13

Common local complications of vaccines?

Answer 13

Pain, redness and swelling at site of injection – settles spontaneously

Question 14

Common systemic complications of vaccinations

Answer 14

1. Crying, may be unusual but tends to settle with comforting/feeding
2. Malaise
3. Fever

Question 15

List 2 contraindications to live vaccines

List 1 contraindications to any vaccines

Answer 15

1. Immunosuppressed or Pregnant
2. Allergy - confirmed anaphylactic rxn to

• previous dose of vaccine containing same antigens, or
• component contained in vaccine, eg. neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B