Babies are to be immunized against six diseases immediately in a bid to enhance vaccination rates. The GPs are advised to give the vaccines that include MMR jab during single visit, when baby has reached to her first birthday. The super vaccination includes three jabs to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.
This vaccination also protects against two forms of meningitis and bacteria which can cause pneumonia. Under current NHS schedule second meningitis jab is immunized after the difference of one month. But through new system, administrative officials believe that change will simplify the complicated immunization schedule and boost the uptake of vaccines after the MMR scare.
The Department of Health told that there was no risk to babies from having all injections on the same day. It will also decrease the stress of parents to remember for the child’s vaccination falling on different months. Under the current program, parents ought to make six appointments for a total of thirteen injections before their child’s fourth birthday.
Some parents are worried over the further health risks and uneasiness of having three jabs in one day. The side effects of vaccine may include pain, fever, stomach upset, headaches and irritability. In more stern cases babies can experience allergic reactions. According to experts the first super-vaccination day could be introduced by the next year.
Under the existing schedule babies are given a combined booster jab for meningitis C and Hib, a bacterial contagion that can cause meningitis or severe pneumonia in small kids. Four weeks later they are invited back for the MMR triple vaccine and a third booster for pneumococcal infection. But now GPs will give all three jabs at the single appointment.
The amendment was suggested by the joint committee on vaccination and immunization, after detailed interviewed with parents they found combining the jabs on one day would cause no health problems for babies. An autonomous scientific research has shown that it is completely safe and effective.