Why Immunisation Matters
Vaccines have eliminated or dramatically reduced diseases that once killed millions of children every year — polio, measles, whooping cough, and tetanus. Immunisation does not just protect your child; it protects everyone in your community, including newborns and those with weakened immune systems who cannot receive vaccines themselves.
How Vaccines Work
A vaccine introduces a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen into the body. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, creating a lasting memory that allows rapid defence if the real disease is encountered in future. The child does not get sick from the vaccine — only protected by it.
The Recommended Schedule
- At birth: BCG (tuberculosis), Hepatitis B first dose
- 6 weeks: OPV, Pentavalent (DPT-HepB-Hib), PCV, Rotavirus
- 10 weeks: OPV, Pentavalent, PCV, Rotavirus
- 14 weeks: OPV, Pentavalent, PCV, IPV
- 9 months: Measles-Rubella first dose
- 18 months: Measles-Rubella second dose, DPT booster
Common Concerns Answered
Will the vaccine make my child sick? Mild reactions like a low fever or soreness at the injection site are normal and short-lived — a sign the immune system is responding. Serious reactions are extremely rare.
My child missed a vaccine. Is it too late? No. Catch-up schedules exist for children who fall behind. Bring your child in and our paediatric team will assess exactly what is needed.
Are vaccines safe? Yes. Every vaccine undergoes rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before approval, and is monitored continuously after introduction.
Visit Medway for Child Wellness
Our Paediatrics and General and Primary Care teams provide immunisations, growth monitoring, and developmental assessments in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Book a child wellness visit today — because the best healthcare is preventive healthcare.
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