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:

1. Remember to take your ‘red book’ to note date given (although it won’t matter if you forget it.)
2. 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.)
3. 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.)
4. 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.)
5. 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!)