Child Health 0-6 Years
Child Immunisation Schedule
| When to immunise | Diseases protected against | Vaccine given | Site |
| 2 months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal disease Rotavirus Meningococcal group B (MenB) | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) PCV (Prevenar 13) Rotavirus (Rotarix) MenB | Thigh Thigh By mouth Left thigh |
| 3 months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib Meningococcal group C disease (MenC) Rotavirus | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate) Rotavirus (Rotarix) | Thigh Thigh By mouth |
| 4 months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib Pneumococcal disease Meningococcal group B (MenB) | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) PCV (Prevenar 13) MenB | Thigh Thigh Left thigh |
| 1 year old | Hib/MenC Pneumococcal disease Measles, mumpsand rubella (German measles) MenB | Hib/MenC (Menitorix) PCV (Prevenar 13) MMR(Priorix or MMR VaxPRO) MenB booster | Upper arm/thigh Upper arm/thigh Upper arm/thigh Left thigh |
| 2-6 years old | Influenza (each year from September) | Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV4 | Both nostrils |
| 3-4 years old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio Measles, mumpsand rubella | dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV(Infanrix-IPV) MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given) | Upper arm Upper arm |
Immunisations for at-risk children
| Target Group | Age & Schedule | Disease | Vaccines required |
| Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers | At birth, four weeks, eight weeks and Boost at one year1 | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B / HBvaxPRO) |
| Infants in areas of the country with TB incidence >= 40/100,000 | At birth | Tuberculosis | BCG |
| Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence country | At birth | Tuberculosis | BCG |
Children’s Health
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
When should I worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
Child Health 7 to 15 years
Routine childhood immunisations
| Girls aged 12 to 13 years old | Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11) | HPV (two doses 6-12 months) | Upper arm |
| 14 years old (school year 9) | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio Meningococcal groups A, C, Wand Y disease | Td/IPV (Revaxis), and check MMR status MenACWY | Upper arm Upper arm |
When should I worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
Fevers
Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant paracetamol. If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.
Headlice
Head lice are insects that live on the scalp and neck. They may make your head feel itchy. Although head lice may be embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they don’t usually cause illness. However, they won’t clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly.
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis) are fairly common, especially in children, and can generally be easily treated.
Men
Men’s Health
Five health symptoms men should not ignore:
“British men are paying the price for neglecting their health: more than 100,000 men a year die prematurely.
On average, men go to their GP half as often as women. It’s important to be aware of changes to your health, and to see your GP immediately if you notice something that’s not right.”
Prostate Cancer
Each year about 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects men aged over 50.
Symptoms
- difficulty in starting to pass urine
- a weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine
- dribbling of urine before and after urinating
- a frequent or urgent need to pass urine
- rarely, blood in your urine or semen and pain when passing urine
These symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer but if you have them, see your GP.
Find out more about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of prostate cancer by using the resources below.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer, though the most common cancer in young men, it is still quite rare. With 2000 new cases being diagnosed each year, this makes it the biggest cause of cancer related death in 15 – 35-year-old males. It accounts for around 70 deaths a year within the UK alone.
What to Look Out For
The most common symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a pea-sized lump in one of the testes (balls). There is no current screening test therefore it is important that you look out for the following signs and symptoms.
- A dull ache, or sharp pain, in your testicles, or scrotum, which may come and go
- A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
- A dull ache in your lower abdomen
- A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum
- Fatigue, and generally feeling unwell.
Sexual Problems
It’s estimated that one man in 10 has a problem related to having sex, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction. Dr John Tomlinson of The Sexual Advice Association explains some of the causes, and where to seek help.
Women
Cervical Screening (Smear Test)
Cervical screening is a method of preventing cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix (lower part of the womb). Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, but it is a test to check the health of the cervix.
Most women’s test results show that everything is normal. But for one in 20 women, the test will show some changes in the cells of the cervix. Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells will go back to normal on their own. In some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming a problem later.
HPV Vaccinations
Since September 2008 there has been a national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against human papilloma virus (HPV). There is also a three-year catch up campaign that will offer the HPV vaccine (also known as the cervical cancer jab) to 13-18 year old girls.
The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools, and consists of three injections that are given over a six-month period. In the UK, more than 1.4 million doses have been given since the vaccination programme started.
What is Human papilloma virus (HPV)?
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. These membranes are called the mucosa.
There are more than 100 different types of HPV viruses, with about 40 types affecting the genital area. These are classed as high risk and low risk.
How you get HPV?
Types of HPV that affect the skin can be passed on by skin contact with an affected person. The types of HPV that affect the mouth and throat can be passed on through kissing. Genital HPV is usually spread through intimate, skin to skin, contact during sex. You can have the genital HPV virus for years and not have any sign of it.
How HPV can cause cervical cancer?
Most HPV infections are harmless or cause genital warts, however some types can cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix where it can stay for many years without you knowing.
The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical screening (testing) is to detect these changes, which, if picked up early enough, can be treated to prevent cancer happening. If they are left untreated, cancer can develop and may lead to serious illness and death.
Seniors
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.
Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:
- people aged 65 or over,
- people with a serious medical condition
- if you are pregnant
- people living in a residential or nursing home
- the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
- healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care
For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see Seasonal flu jab
Eating Well & Exercise – helping you maintain a healthy body
We’re bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity ‘epidemic’. But a healthy body is determined by different factors for each of us.
NHS – Good Food Guide
Information on a healthy diet and ways to make it work for you
NHS – Why be active?
Even a little bit of exercise will make you feel better about yourself, boost your confidence and cut your risk of developing a serious illness.