MMR
At birth the BCG vaccine should be given if the baby is deemed at risk of tuberculosis (e.g. Tuberculosis in the family in the past 6 months).
Common side effects of vaccinations
Vaccinations are generally very safe and effective. Any vaccination can cause side effects from a local and systemic immune response:
- Locally, there may be tenderness and aches around the injection site
- Systemically, the patient may have a fever and feel unwell for a few hours
- Fever is particularly common with the meningococcal vaccine; parents should be asked to give prophylactic paracetamol to their child and warned that a fever is very likely. This will help to reduce unnecessary worry, A&E attendance and unnecessary investigations.
Rare side effects of vaccinations
- Anaphylaxis
- Rotavirus vaccination can rarely cause intussusception.
- The MMR vaccine can cause seizures (1/1000 doses) and ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) (1/24,000 doses).
Contra-indications to vaccinations
- Egg allergy
- children with egg allergy should not receive yellow fever vaccination
- the standard preparation of the influenza vaccine is only contraindicated in children who have been admitted to PICU as a result of their egg allergy. All other cases of children with egg allergy can safely have the standard vaccine in primary care settings.
- The MMR vaccine is safe for children with an egg allergy. It is a common misconception that it contains components from eggs.
- Previous proven anaphylaxis to vaccine components - children with serology confirming allergy to vaccine components should not receive further doses of that particular vaccine.
- Immunosuppression - children with immunosuppression (e.g. from confirmed severe primary immunodeficiencies, chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive medications, or radiotherapy) should not receive live attenuated vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine, inhaled influenza vaccine or the varicella vaccine.
- Intussusception - children with a history of intussusception cannot have the rotavirus vaccination