This vaccine is given at two, four and six months and protects your child against six different diseases in one injection.
- Diphtheria – This can be a very serious bacterial illness which symptoms can vary from sore throat, fever, headache to breathing difficulties and problems with swallowing. Immunity is 97% after vaccination.
- Hepatitis B – This is a viral infection which affects the liver and can cause serious health problems such as liver failure, cancer, cirrhosis and lifelong infection. Immunity is 80-100% after vaccination
- Hib – This is a bacterial infection which can cause meningitis, septicaemia and chest and ear infections. Immunity is 95-100% after vaccination.
- Polio – This is a viral infection that can cause paralysis. Immunity is 99% after vaccination.
- Tetanus – This is a potentially fatal disease which can cause muscle spasm, convulsions and breathing problems. Immunity is almost 100% after vaccination.
- Whooping Cough – This is a bacterial infection which causes a characteristic ‘whoop’ sound during coughing episodes and can lead to difficulties breathing, pneumonia, heart and lung failure and brain damage. Immunity is 75-90% after vaccination.
This vaccine is important. Each time your baby gets the vaccine their level of immunity is increased and the vaccine becomes more effective. Getting the vaccine at the recommended times means that your child will be immune to these illnesses as early as possible which reduces their risk of contracting illness. As with all vaccines there is a very small risk (less than one in 100,000) of your child experiencing a severe anaphylactic reaction but these often occur within 15 minutes of vaccination and the nurses or doctors administering the vaccine are well-trained to manage these reactions.
Babies who should avoid this vaccine are ones who have previously had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or have a known allergy to other parts of the vaccine such as neomycin or polymixin B.
You can get your child vaccinated if they have a cough or a cold but not if they are sick with a fever.
I hope you have found this article helpful and if you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to contact me by sending a private message to the WonderBaba facebook page (www.facebook.com/wonderbabacare) or by calling me (Sheena) at Milltown totalhealth Pharmacy in Dublin 6 on 012600262. I’m always happy to help!
References:
- http://www.medicines.ie/medicine/13596/SPC/Infanrix+Hexa,+Powder+and+suspension+for+suspension+for+injection/
- https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/Immunisation/pubinfo/babychildimm/babychildimm.html#What are the names of the vaccines my baby will receive?
What does it look like?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring environmental chemical. It cannot be removed fully from food as it is found naturally in soil. There is however ongoing concern and interest surrounding how much arsenic is on our food, what type or arsenic it is and what level is safe for our babies and children.
Croup is a scary and frightening condition which affects the upper airways. Inflammation of the larynx (also known as vocal cords), the trachea (known as the wind pipe) and the bronchi (small passageways in the lungs) causes obstruction of breathing and a characteristic barking cough. It can be due to a viral infection or it can be spasmodic. Viral infection can be passed by your child breathing in or ingesting infected air droplets which are present in an infected persons coughs and sneezes. 
