Immunize is the only effective way to protect your baby or older child against any harmful diseases – meaning your baby will have small chances to catch the disease if they are exposed to it. Immunisation is also important to help eradicate (destroy) the disease. If most of the population are immunised, the infection will no longer spread around the community, hence the disease dies out.

Every country has different types of immunize for different types of diseases. Ensure that you are aware of all the immunize your baby will need to go through. Your local hospital or the place where you delivered should give you a book or sheet telling you which and when immunize are due.

Tips before you take your baby for immunisation

• Give your baby paracetamol (nurofen for baby or) approximately half an hour before immunize.

• Don’t forget to take any record book, you may need to look back to see which immunize your baby has had – especially if something happens in the future when they are older.

• The injection will be given in the baby’s upper thigh not the bottom or arm. Once your child is over one year of age, injections may be given in the arm.

Reactions after immunize

• There could be a slight temperature

• Baby may seem irritated

• Drowsiness

• Baby may have a decrease in appetite

• There may be local swelling and the area may become a bit red. Sometimes a small hard lump may occur, and probably last for some weeks, but it is not a problem to be concerned for.

• A faint rash

• Head cold

• Could have a runny nose

• Puffy eyes

• Cough

• Discomfort

• These are minor reactions, so there is nothing to be too concerned about. Read What to do at home section (below) for tips on what you can do at home when your baby has a common reaction from immunize.

What to do at home

• If minor reactions to continue, give your baby paracetamol every 4 hours at the recommended dosage for the baby’s age. DO NOT use any paracetamol which has been made for adults on the one which is appropriate for the baby’s age.

• If your baby has a temperature, dress her in loose and light clothing. Do not cover them in heavy bed clothing; they need to be cooled down a bit.

• Apply a cool washer or cold pack wrapped in a cloth every now and then to the injection site.

• Give your baby extra love and cuddles so that she knows that you are looking after her and are there for her. Make sure that you don’t touch the injection site, and try showing her that nothing has really happened.

When to seek for medical advice

Go to the hospital or the doctor:

• If your baby’s temperature reaches 39°C (this is when a thermometer comes in handy) or the temperature does not go down within half an hour after giving paracetamol.
  

• If your baby is very pale and/or sleepy – very sleepy in the sense that if you find they are very difficult to wake up.

• If your baby continues to scream and is very difficult to console.

• If your baby becomes unconscious or has a seizure and you cannot wake them up at all