Immunisation  Learning Outcomes: Identify one stage in the NHS vaccination programme Recall key symptoms relating to one childhood disease Provide three reasons why record keeping with children is important Understand five key elements in dealing with an infectious outbreak

Key Terms  Vaccination is when a vaccine is administered to you (usually by injection). Vaccination  Immunisation is what happens in your body after you have the vaccination. The vaccine stimulates your immune system so that it can recognise the disease and protect you from future infection (i.e. you become immune to the infection). Immunisation  ‘Vaccination’ and ‘immunisation’ are often used interchangeably but their meanings are not exactly the same.

What is diptheria?  Diphtheria is a serious disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly cause breathing problems.  It can damage the heart and nervous system and, in severe cases, can kill.  Before the diphtheria vaccine was introduced in the UK, there were up to 70,000 cases of diphtheria a year, causing around 5,000 deaths.

What is Tetanus?  Tetanus is a disease affecting the nervous system that can lead to muscle spasms, cause breathing problems and even kill.  It is caused when germs that are found in soil and manure get into the body through open cuts or burns. Tetanus cannot be passed from person to person.

What is Pertussis?  Whooping cough is a disease that can cause long bouts of coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe.  Whooping cough can last for up to ten weeks. Babies under one year of age are most at risk from whooping cough. For these babies, the disease is very serious and can kill.  It is not usually as serious in older children. Before the pertussis vaccine was introduced, on average 120,000 cases of whooping cough were reported each year in the UK.

What is Polio?  Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis of the muscles. If it affects the chest muscles or the brain, polio can kill.  Before the polio vaccine was introduced, there were as many as 8,000 cases of polio in the UK in epidemic years. Because of the continued success of the polio vaccination, there have been no cases of natural polio infection in the UK for over 20 years (the last case was in 1984).

What is Hib  Hib is an infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria.  It can lead to a number of major illnesses such as blood poisoning (septicaemia), pneumonia and meningitis. The Hib vaccine only protects your baby against the type of meningitis caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria – it does not protect against any other type of meningitis. The illnesses caused by Hib can kill if they are not treated quickly. Before the Hib vaccine was introduced, there were about 800 cases of Hib in young children every year in the UK.

What is rotavirus?  Rotavirus is a virus that infects the gut (tummy), causing severe diarrhoea and vomiting. Most babies get sick (vomit) or have diarrhoea at some time and recover fully after a few days. However, sickness and diarrhoea caused by the rotavirus can lead to dehydration (loss of body fluids). Dehydration can be very dangerous for babies and young children and can require hospital treatment. In Scotland, around 1200 babies have to go to hospital every year with rotavirus. Since the vaccine was introduced in 2013, the number of laboratory confirmed cases in infants has fallen by more than 80%.

Maintaining Accurate Records   The personal child health record (also known as the PCHR or 'red book') is a national standard health and development record given to parents/carers at a child's birth.  The PCHR is the main record of a child's health and development. The parent/carer retains the PCHR, and health professionals should update the record each time the child is seen in a healthcare setting.

Activity  Working in small groups draw a flow chart of what you think you should do if there was an outbreak of vomiting in your setting  Think about the child, parents/carers, staff, other children and reporting

Research  Identify the lead person for recording and reporting incidents relating to infection in your setting