Immunisations Flashcards
What is immunity?
The ability of the human body to protect itself from infectious disease
What are two mechanism for acquiring immunity?
active and passive
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines produce their protective effect by inducing active immunity and providing immunological memory
What is herd immunity?
Unvaccinated individuals will be less likely to be exposed to disease and also benefit from the vaccination programme
The percentage coverage needed varies with differing diseases
List the types of vaccines
live attenuated
inactivated
toxoid vaccines
Describe live-attenuated vaccines and give an example
organisms with antigenicity but lost virulence
may be a risk to immunocompromised
e.g. MMR
Describe inactivated vaccines and give examples
inactivated bacteria/viruses
may contain adjuncts - aluminium hydroxide or phosphate
e.g. influenza, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, mengingococcus, pneumococcus, haemopilus
Describe toxoid vaccines and give an example
specific toxin agents for immune protection e.g. tetanus
Who devises the vaccination schedule?
Department of Health
in the Green Book
At what ages are vaccinations given?
8 weeks 2 months
12 weeks 4 months
16 weeks 4 months
1 year
What vaccines are given at 2 months?
DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B (6in1) (Diptheria, Tetanus, (Pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenza type B, hepatitis B)
Pneumococcal (PCV)
Rotavirus
Meningococcal group B (MenB)
What vaccines are given at 3 months?
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
Rotavirus
What vaccines are given at 4 months?
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
Pneumococcal (PCV)
Meningococcal Group B (Men B)
What vaccines are given at 1 year?
Hib/MenC
MMR
pneumococcal (PCV)
Meningococcal Group B (Men B)
What does DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB stand for?
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
inactivated polio vaccine
haemophilus influenza type B
hepatitis B
What does PCV stand for?`
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
In what 3 circumstances should additional vaccinations be given?
- Has comorbidities which make them susceptible to certain preventable disease e.g. influenza
- Is, or has been, exposed to an environment where infection with a preventable disease is more likely e.g. TB
- is going to travel to an area outside the UK which is endemic with a preventable disease e.g. hepA, typhoid, yellow fever
additional immunisation to protect agasint influenza may be required in children over 6 months of age with comorbidities such as….
chonric heart, renal, liver, or respiratory disease (including asthma), or who have immunosuppression
Describe the routine immunisation for the 2017/18 flu season
all children aged 2 years of age up to children in year 4 of primary school, should be offered influenza vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunization programme
Who is the chickenpox vaccine recommended for?
susceptible children who are contacts of people who are immunocompromised e.g. they have a sibling with leukaemia or a parent undergoing chemotherapy
What caution is needed for administration of the chicken pox vaccine?
- a four week interval should be observed between administration of the chickenpox vaccine and the MMR, if they are not administered on the same day
What to tell parents about vaccinating their child?
- explain the benefits to the parents, in particular that is helps prevent serious illness in children, especially severe diseases such as meningities, whooping cough and tetanus
- reassure that vaccinations are safe, and serious adverse effects are very rare. Pain, swelling and reddinging at the site of injection are most common and systemic effects, should they occur, are usually limited to mild fever
What is the guidance on anti-pyretics?
The guidance has changed recently
Before MenB vaccine:
- advise parents not to give paracetamol or ibuprofen to prevent fever, however if pain or fever is problematic the chid may be given these
However there is evidence that the use of prophylactic paracetamol is useful in preventing fever
What are the absolute contraindications for immunisation?
- a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of a vaccine containing the same antigens
- a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to another component contained in the relevant vaccine e.g. neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B (which may be present in trace amounts in some vaccines)
These children need to be referred for specialist advice and immunisation in the hospital environment
