Immunisations are a key part of keeping children healthy, especially during their first few years of life. Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease and because a baby’s immune system is not fully developed at birth, babies face a greater risk of becoming infected and getting seriously ill. Platinum Health offers a range of child immunisations that can help strengthen your child’s immunity. Here’s a guide to the important vaccinations your child needs from birth to 12 years old.

Birth

• BCG: This vaccine protects against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that affects the lungs.

6 Weeks

• RV: Protects against rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhoea and can be dangerous, especially in babies.

• PCV: Protects against pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections.

• Hexavalent Vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV): This combination vaccine protects against six diseases namely, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio and haemophilus influenzae type B. It’s one of the most important vaccines your baby will receive.

10 Weeks

• Hexavalent Vaccine: The second dose to boost your baby’s protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and Hib.

14 Weeks

• RV: The second dose to protect against severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus.

• PCV: The second dose to protect against pneumococcal infections.

• Hexavalent Vaccine: The third dose to boost your baby’s protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and Hib.

6 Months

• Measles Vaccine: Protects against measles, a highly contagious disease that can lead to complications like pneumonia, diarrhoea, and brain swelling.

9 Months

• PCV: The third dose to protect against pneumococcal infections.

12 Months

• MMR: Provides long-term protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

18 Months

• Hexavalent Vaccine: The final dose of this combination vaccine.

6 Years

• DTaP-IPV: Protects against diphteria, tetanus, pertussis and polio.

• MMR: Protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

At 9 Years and older

Additional vaccinations for boys and girls

• HPV: Protects against cervical cancer, anogenital warts, oropharyngeal cancers and precancers. Two doses are recommended.

12 Years

• TDaP-IPV: Protects against tetanus, diphteria, pertussis and polio.

Abbreviations

BCG
Bacilles Calmette Guerin

RV
Rotavirus

DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B and Hepatitis B Combined

MMR
Measles, Mumps, Rubella

PCV
Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine

TD
Tetanus and reduced strength of Diphtheria Vaccine

DTaP-IPV
Diphteria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio

TDaP-IPV
Tetanus, Diphteria, Pertussis, Polio

HPV
Human papillomavirus

As a parent you often have questions about the vaccines recommended for your children. Talk to a doctor at any of our medical facilities, they can answer any questions you might have.