Immunisation
Sr Kristel Steyn-Battheu
Immunisation is the best way to protect your child from many infectious diseases.
Vaccines are given from birth up until 12 years of age. As a parent you have the responsibility to protect your child by ensuring that you immunise.
There are many ways to protect your child as he or she grows, but when it comes to protection against certain childhood diseases, the medical community strongly recommends vaccination.
Today, many of these diseases have practically disappeared in a number of countries due to vaccination. Protecting your child through vaccination should be a routine practice.
There are also additional private vaccines available against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine), as well as Hepatitis A and Chickenpox.
From 10 years of age all girls can be vaccinated against cervical cancer.
See the table below for the different vaccines.
Kristel Steyn-Battheu – Parentwood Baby and Family Wellness Centre – 103 North Street, Rietondale; 012 329 1301; parentwood@birth2baby.co.za.
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Age of child
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Vaccine needed
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How and Where is it given?
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At birth
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OPV(0) Oral Polio Vaccine
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Drops by mouth
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BCG Bacillus Calmette Guerin
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Intradermally / Right arm
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6 weeks
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OPV(1) Oral Polio Vaccine
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Drops by mouth
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RV (1) Rotavirus Vaccine
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Liquid by mouth
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DTaP-IPV//HIB(1) Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine & Haemophilus influenzae type b combined
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Intramuscularly / Left thigh
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Hep B(1) Hepatitis B Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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PCV(1) Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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10 weeks
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DTaP-IPV//HIB(2) Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine & Haemophilus influenzae type b combined
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Intramuscularly / Left thigh
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Hep B(2) Hepatitis B Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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14 weeks
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RV (2) Rotavirus Vaccine
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Liquid by mouth
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DTaP-IPV//HIB(3) Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine & Haemophilus influenzae type b combined
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Intramuscularly / Left thigh
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Hep B(3) Hepatitis B Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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PCV(2) Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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9 months
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Measles Vaccine(1)
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Intramuscularly / Left thigh
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PCV(3) Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Right thigh
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18 months
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DTaP-IPV//HIB(4) Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine & Haemophilus influenzae type b combined
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Intramuscularly / Left arm
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Measles Vaccine (2)
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Intramuscularly / Right arm
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6 years
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Td vaccine Tetanus & reduced amount of diphtheria vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Left arm
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12 years
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Td vaccine Tetanus & reduced amount of diphtheria vaccine
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Intramuscularly / Left arm
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