Vaccination Schedules

Abstract

The vaccines included in the current UK Immunisation Schedule offer protection against the following pathogens: A. Viruses ● Measles ● Mumps ● Rubella ● Polio ● Human Papilloma Virus (certain serotypes) ● Rotavirus ● Influenza virus (flu A and B) ● Varicella zoster virus (shingles) ● Hepatitis B virus B. Bacteria ● Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Diphtheria) ● Clostridium tetani (Tetanus) ● Bordetella pertussis (Pertussis) ● Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) ● Neisseria meningitidis (Meningococcal disease—certain serotypes) ● Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal disease—certain serotypes) The UK Immunisation Schedule has evolved over several decades and reflects changes in vaccine development and commercial availability, national and sometimes international disease epidemiology, and the latest expert opinion. It is designed to offer optimal protection against infectious diseases of childhood to infants and children at the most appropriate age. The most up-to-date information about the UK Immunisation Schedule is available on the online version of the Department of Health publication commonly known as the ‘Green Book’: Immunisation Against Infectious Disease Handbook (see Further reading. Various chapters of the online version are updated at regular intervals; thus, it is very important to refer to the online version of the Green Book on the website for current guidance. Changes to the UK Immunisation Schedule are made on the recommendation of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI). Several of the UK Immunisation Schedule vaccines are combined vaccines: ● Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). ● Hexavalent diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio virus, Haemophilus influenza type b, hepatitis B (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB). ● Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio, and Haemophilus influenzae (DTaP/IPV/Hib). ● Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio (DTaP/IPV). ● Tetanus, diphtheria, and inactivated polio (Td/IPV). ● Inactivated influenza vaccine: influenza A H1N1, H3N2, influenza B. ● Live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine: influenza A H1N1, H3N2, influenza B. In the UK, vaccines against single pathogens covered by the MMR vaccine are not recommended and not available in the National Health Service (NHS). There has been some limited demand for single-target vaccines, e.g. measles, due to misguided and unfounded concerns about the alleged risks of autism following MMR.