Childhood Vaccinations

Doctors are warning parents to keep newborns at home to shield them from a whooping cough epidemic involving 4580 cases this year, according to data from NSW Health. Areas with low vaccinationvaccination rates, such as the far north coast of NSW, had more than 300 per cent more cases of whooping cough between 2008-2010.

A local paediatrician, Dr Chris Ingall, said, "With vaccination rates so low in this area we say to the mothers of newborns, do not take them out in the community."

Northern Sydney and South-Eastern Sydney have also recorded high levels of whooping cough, registering 669 and 522 cases respectively.

Vaccinating your baby
While the thought of taking your baby to get immunised will probably fill you with dread, most doctors agree it’s one of the best things you can do for her future health.

After the howling reception my baby girl gave her Hepatitis B shot while still in hospital, I wasn’t looking forward to her first next immunisations. I felt sick about the appointment for a week before. Had I done enough research? Was I doing the right thing?

I can still remember when the needles went in. It was painful, and her little face reflected it. I swear if she could speak she would have said, “Mummy, how could you?!” I dissolved into tears. So did she, but after a few minutes on the breast she was fine. I, on the other hand, took a bit longer to recover.

For most first-time mums, their immunisation experience is not unlike my own. Nerves, guilt and lots of crying … from both parties!

“The very first immunisation needles were incredibly angst ridden,” says Jacqui, mum to Georgina, 19 months.

“I thought we would brave it without her dad, which increased my anxiety levels. The first needle was okay, but the second one made her scream in pain. The doctor was terrific and suggested I feed her to calm her down, which I did with tears in my eyes. The later immunisations were never as bad.”

What’s involved?
A total of 26 vaccinations, covering 13 different infections, are recommended in the first 4 years of life. But don’t panic, because this doesn’t necessarily mean 26 separate needles for your child. Doctors will usually give vaccine combinations, which can reduce the number of needles to two or three at a time. For me, while I hate the idea of inflicting even a second of pain on my baby, the pay-off seems greater. She will be protected from death, or disability, as a result of infectious diseases.

Hard as it may be, PP’s medical expert and mum-of-three Dr Ginni Mansberg says to remember why you are doing it.

“It’s to keep your baby healthy,” she says. “Since the advent of immunisations we have seen diseases that used to cause large numbers of children to die, to almost disappear.”

Who does it?
Immunisation is available from GPs, children’s hospitals and some local councils and early childhood centres. The vaccines are free and vaccination is mostly free, too, although some councils charge a small fee and some GPs will charge a consultation fee.

Making it easier on everyone
If you take your child to a GP, ask where there’s a quiet place that you can comfort and feed your child afterwards.

“A great doctor is really important,” says Jennifer, mum to Spencer, 22 months. “Our doctor gets me to hold Spence in a bear hug and always tells me that I have the top half to comfort and he will take care of the bottom half. For his last jabs, Spencer didn’t even cry because the doctor is so good at soothing and distracting him!”

Some mums give their babies a dose of paracetamol before the injections, hoping it will help with the pain and ward off any post-vaccine fever. “There is no evidence that it helps,” says Dr Ginni Mansberg. “We don’t know if the immunisations give long-lasting pain or if it’s only a couple of seconds during the injection itself. Normally, you can see that the pain is over pretty quickly because most babies cry and then get better.”

EMLA, an anaesthetic patch, is safe and effective for newborns and young babies, says Ginni. “It costs around $20 for two patches,” she says. “You’d stick one on each thigh about 1 to 4 hours before you’re scheduled to have the injection, then leave the patches on until you actually see the GP so they know where to inject. (Visit www.emla.com.au for more information.)

What happens?
Take your baby’s personal health record (issued at her birth) with you so it can be updated after each immunisation. You’ll need to show this when you’re enrolling her in daycare and preschool. Before the injections, your baby will be given a health check.

The jabs can be given while you are breastfeeding, or you’ll be shown how to hold bub so she can’t move when the needles go in. “We give the injections in the thigh until around 12 months, and then in the deltoid muscle in the arm when the muscle there is big enough,” says Ginni.

When it’s all over, one of the best comforters is a feed, so forget routine and let her have at least a 5-minute feed to calm and settle her. “You can do this with breastfeeding and bottlefeeding,” says Ginni. “Most babies get instant comfort in the familiar arms of their mum and being given the breast or bottle. It’s the sucking reflex and being held closely that gives them comfort.”

Thuy On, mum to 2-year-old Ava, found a feed and a toy did the trick. “Breastfeeding Ava immediately after her jabs created a distraction and stopped the tears instantly. A favourite soft toy also seemed to give comfort.”

Possible reactions
After the injections, your GP or nurse will ask you to keep an eye out for possible reactions, the most common being a slight rise in temperature and some soreness at the injection site.

“The most common reaction is fever,” says Ginni. “Bubs might get a mild temperature, and mild is defined as under 38°C. If they have a temperature over 38°C, you should assume that it’s not due to the vaccination and take them to a doctor. We also think, because they get a bit red on their legs where the injection goes in, that it’s probably a bit painful.”

Visit www.immunise.health.gov.au or call the Immunise Australia Infoline on 1800 671 811 for more information.

What do you think? Have you vaccinated your children?

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