Baby born on or after Oct 1st 2016? The immunisation schedule has changed

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All babies born after October 1st 2016 will have to follow a new immunisation schedule set out by the HSE. Babies born before that date will continue to follow the previous schedule.

 

This is absolutely nothing to worry about – vaccination schedules change frequently, and in this case, it's simply to give babies protection against meningococcal B disease and rotavirus disease. 

 

To make it easy for you to see how the schedule has changed, set out below are the vaccine additions and changes, as well as the new vaccination schedule:

 

 

 

 

According to the advice from the HSE, when MenB vaccine is given with the other childhood vaccines at 2 and 4-month visits, there is a higher risk that the baby will develop a fever. Fever after MenB vaccine typically rises over the first 6 hours and then reduces until 24 hours, when most fevers will be gone. Babies at their 2 and 4-month vaccinations should be given 3 doses of liquid infant paracetamol after each visit to reduce this fever.

Dose 1 should be given at or just after the vaccine is given.

Dose 2 should be given 4-6 hours after dose 1 and

Dose 3 should be given a further 4-6 hours after dose 2.

A dose of 2.5mls (60mg) of liquid infant paracetamol suspension should be given to babies. It is important that babies are not given paracetamol prior to vaccination, as the GP or practice nurse will need to be able to assess that the baby is well to receive the immunisations.

 

For more information on your baby’s immunisations, click here, visit your GP or contact the HSE on 1850 24 1850.