12 month jabs - should I give Calpol?

[sad7891]

My little boy has his 12 month jabs on Tuesday. Am I right in thinking that it’s one needle in each arm and one in each leg, so four in total?

Also, should I give Calpol straight afterwards and then once every four hours after that, even if there are no symptoms?

Is it hard to keep them still during the jabs? I’m dreading it as he will be so much more aware this time.

Finally... is this the last set of jabs they need? Hope so.

Hi, no you don't need to give calpol with these one. If your child gets symptoms that are causing then distress and you want to give it, that's fine.
Usually all in the legs still at this age and yes it is 4 needles. You will need to hold them firmly in your lap and make sure little hands are kept out of the way.
The next set of vaccines are at 3 years 4 months then none until they are in secondary school.

I give vaccines. Hope that helps.

Hi. Im a practice nurse. If he has pain/temperature, give him calpol (some babies get one with these jabs, others dont). If not, then dont.

DD had hers in April, one jab per limb. Not too wriggly although it was of course unpleasant! Have carpool in response to high temp that eve. She was out of sorts for a couple days after.

If I recall correctly, for the earlier jabs it was advised to give Calpol straight afterwards wasn’t it? Is it definitely not best to do that again this time, to preempt any fever?

Another practice nurse.
Yes four vaccines, two in each leg. Calpol is given with the primary course because the Men B is given alongside the tetanus vaccine and this combination often causes a temp. No tetanus at the twelve month imms plus baby is older. No need to give calpol unless you think they need it afterwards.

Ask at the appointment if you want to check but when my DS had them a couple of months ago they said he didn’t need it unless he felt unwell after. They will show you how to hold him so that he can’t move around.
The next set are at 3.5 years

Thanks. I have no idea how I’ll keep DS still - he’s such a wriggler, especially when he’s upset.

My daughter had the men B jabs privately before they were on the NHS so we weren't told to give Calpol for the baby ones. She got a fever each time except for the booster at 12 months so I think by that they cope better at that age.

Would there be any harm in giving Calpol as a precautionary measure before any symptoms, just to counteract any potential fever later?

@sad7891 - Would there be any harm in giving Calpol as a precautionary measure before any symptoms, just to counteract any potential fever later?

There is research (sorry, don't have a link at the moment) that shows using pain killers as a precaution can reduce the immune system response for certain childhood vaccines. They only did the research for some of the vaccines so no evidence either way for the rest of them. I wouldn't chance it though. Obviously if the child develops a fever, you can treat that.

I came across the research before I had my covid vaccine. There's no research on adults but I decided to just use whinging to cope with side effects just in case.

@sad7891

Would there be any harm in giving Calpol as a precautionary measure before any symptoms, just to counteract any potential fever later?

I wouldnt.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene any reason why not?

@OchonAgusOchonOh Interesting - I’m sure they advise you to give Calpol straightaway after the 8, 12 and 16 week jabs though?

Because you dont know if they need the medication or not.

[quote sad7891]@Letsallscreamatthesistene any reason why not?[/quote]
If you read my post just before the one posted by @Letsallscreamatthesistene, you will see why not. It can interfere with the immune response for at least some childhood vaccines.

[quote sad7891]@OchonAgusOchonOh Interesting - I’m sure they advise you to give Calpol straightaway after the 8, 12 and 16 week jabs though?[/quote]
This is the article I read. The CDC and WHO recommend against it. Healthcare professionals can't possibly stay up to date on every piece of research that comes out so the advice is based on national medical guidance.

Obviously up to you what you do.

@OchonAgusOchonOh thanks for the link but that article is hardly conclusive

But the few studies that exist on pain relievers and vaccines are not robust enough to draw conclusions, experts say

I’ve also just found this on the NHS website!

It's recommended that you give your baby liquid paracetamol after the MenB vaccine to reduce the risk of a high temperature. This vaccine is given at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year old.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/vaccination-appointment-tips-for-parents/

OP. I feel like you're going to do whatever you want to anyway. Theres very little point in anyone trying to tell you otherwise.

@sad7891 - thanks for the link but that article is hardly conclusive confused

I never said it was conclusive. The way research works is that one study comes to a conclusion but it can't be generalised until there are more studies to confirm (or otherwise). The research that shows a problem is basically posing a question that needs to be confirmed or rejected by multiple studies.

Personally, I prefer to take a more cautious approach. If there is a suggestion that there could be a problem, I would rather not take the chance. The CDC and the WHO are obviously taking the same approach as they recommend avoiding using them as a precautionary measure.

Not everyone taked the same cautious approach obviously and it's up to people to decide for themselves.

@sad7891 - I’ve also just found this on the NHS website!

The NHS also used to state that alcohol consumption was fine during pregnancy. Now they say none should be taken. Advice changes based on research outcomes.

Published research has posed the possibility that it might be a problem. The CDC and WHO think it's better to err on the side of caution until more evidence either confirms or refutes the research. The NHS are taking a different approach, either waiting for more evidence or simply not aware of the research that exits. Given the minimal benefit of medicating as a precaution, my preference is not to take the risk.

@sad7791 **It's recommended that you give your baby liquid paracetamol after the MenB vaccine to reduce the risk of a high temperature. This vaccine is given at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year old.

Yes to paracetamol at 8, 12, and 16 weeks but not at 1 year as mentioned by another poster up thread. I don’t know why it includes it on the NHS website but most likely all practice nurses are going to advise the same thing - not to give at 1 year unless necessary. I’m also a PN. But by all means do as you think fit.

To reiterate OP, calpol is needed at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as the Men B is given alongside tetanus which increases the temp risk, but not given at 12 months as baby is older and no tetanus involved.
Anyway, good luck for today.

OP. I feel like you're going to do whatever you want to anyway. Theres very little point in anyone trying to tell you otherwise.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene Not at all - what I want to do doesn’t come into it. I’m simply trying to establish what is right/best for my baby.

@sad7891

Thanks. I have no idea how I’ll keep DS still - he’s such a wriggler, especially when he’s upset.

The nurses do this all the time. I've always been instructed on how to hold DC on my lap in a way that basically straps them down so they can't move. You don't want them wiggling with needles around!