News
12th April 2019
Vaccines Work
European Immunisation Week (EIW) is celebrated across the European Region every April to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for people’s health and well-being.
The theme for this year "Vaccines work" focuses immunisation as an individual right and a shared responsibility.
We have updated our Vaccines Work graphic for this EIW to include vaccine preventable diseases cases in Ireland in 2017. You can download the graphic here.
It is important your child gets their vaccines on time, every time
Your child needs to have their vaccines at the right age so they are protected. Young children are most at risk of getting some infectious diseases and need to be protected as early as possible.
For example, if your child is younger than six months they are at the highest risk for serious complications of whooping cough (6 out of 10 children in this age group need to go into hospital, and 9 out of 10 deaths from whooping cough are in this age group).
Your child must be given rotavirus vaccine before 8 months of age to prevent diarrhoea and vomiting. This is because in very rare cases they can get a blockage in their gut if the vaccine is given later.
Your child needs a number of vaccines to get the best protection, so it is important they complete the course of vaccines.
Book your appointment to make sure your child is fully protected
The best way to protect your child and others is to complete the vaccination schedule
Your child needs a full course of vaccines to give them the best protection now and in the future.
They need 5 visits between 2 and 13 months.
It is very important they get their vaccines at 12 and 13 months to provide protection against serious disease such as meningitis. Visit "Vaccination schedule" for additional information
Make an appointment with our nurse if your child has missed some of their vaccines so they are fully protected. Visit "Late entrant guidelines" for additional information