Vaccines

[Justamumof2x]

Hi all,

not here to start an argument just want to discuss the new changes in child vaccine schedule.

so my son who is 4 soon has had all his vaccines but my daughter who’s 6 months will now have to receive a 6-in1 at 12 months AND 18 months. Whereas my sons vaccines ended at 12 months and he’s just had his booster at 3yr 4months.

I asked the doctor why the change? Why do they suddenly need EXTRA protection than before? For things like HepB etc? and she couldn’t answer me and said they don’t know. They’ve just been told about the changes.

does anyone know? Or has anyone questioned this?

thank you

It's mostly driven by the change from MMR to MMRV - you need two doses of chickenpox vaccine (the V - varicella), ideally at 12 and 18 months, for long term protection. It has the added bonus of getting all the measles immunity in sooner too, given current outbreaks. The additional dose of 6 in 1 might be too boost pertussis (whooping cough) immunity. They always try to do several vaccines at one visit to minimise the times you have to go back and forth to the GP.

The Hib/Men C vaccine previously given at 12 months is stopped being manufactured. They will now wait until 14/15 years of age to get the Men C with the ACWY in school, and the 6 in 1 vaccine at 18 months is to replace the ‘missing’ Hib they have lost.
It’s a minefield atm, about to change again in January. I’ve know nurses make errors already!
Practice nurse.