JP after his 3rd Immunisation with Goody Bag
I held JP tight as he was given not one, not two, but three injections. The injections were necessary to immunise him against:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Whooping Cough
- Polio Hib
- Men C
- Pneumoccus (PCV)
I have done my research and was wholeheartedly complicit with the health visitors by holding him still for each injection.
Aiming for a fast exit, I thanked the health visitors and re-entered the waiting room with an armful of red bawling baby and a bag full of goodies. Less than than twenty minutes later JP was blissfully unaware of the two raised red marks on his thighs. ‘Snappy Green’, the pop-up crocodile, in his new book was far more interesting. He also received a sippy cup, baby toothpaste, toothbrush, a bookstart bag, three books and a musical CD.
I believe in vaccinations. My Dad had Polio as a child . As a four-year-old, eager to emulate everything about her daddy, I used to try and walk the same way as him. Surely all Daddies walk with a limp? I didn’t understand what disease was or that my Dad had spent one year of his childhood in hospital because of an infectious disease.
I feel very lucky to live in a country where my child can be immunised against ten diseases as part of the pre-school immunisation programme. Six years ago I spent ten months in Africa where the children gratefully walk miles to recieve a vacinnation. Its much more common for them not to get immunised against disease at all.
If you are going for your child’s first immunisation:
- Remember to take your ‘red book’ to note date given (although it won’t matter if you forget it.)
- Put baby in a vest and easy slip on trousers (the health visitors are busy and it can feel like a rush to get the next baby in.)
- Bring a bottle, pacifier or breastfeed to comfort baby afterwards (you will wait at least five minutes in the waiting room after the immunisation to make sure baby is ok.)
- Don’t feel bad if baby cries (you are protecting your child from disease at a time when they are most vulnerable to the effects of infectious diseases.)
- Be aware that it is common for baby to be fretful or have a temperture in the first few hours. (However, if your baby has a high termperture or you are worried, call your doctor – that is what they are there for!)
