Red health book - why is there a bfing question on the vaccination pages?

[walkbesideme]

Hi - does the fact that a mother breast feeds at 1 year have any impact on the efficiency of the inoculation? Why is the question there? Or is it just to get a picture of BFing across the nation?

It is just used to collect breast feeding data, as far as I am aware it has no impact on the immunisation.

Yes, it's the way they get an indication of breastfeeding rates. In theory all babies are seen at the same stage for immunisations so in theory they get a picture of national breastfeeding rates at that stage.

If it is just about collecting breastfeeding data, then why is it on the immunisation pages? Is there a hidden agenda? Either breastfeeding should have its own page, or it needs to be explained why it is on that page.

I wasn't actually ever asked that though - I was really miffed as I was still breastfeeding so wanted to be asked!

If it was on its own page it would get forgotten or ignored - most infants go in for the vaccinations so it's more likely to get asked that way. In theory anyway!