Vaccination schedule

What are vaccinations and why is it given?

Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to infectious disease. By injecting your baby with a vaccine, the body develops its own immune response to that particular disease. This means that if he is later exposed to that disease, the body has already got its defense ready to protect him.

The World Health Organisation has a Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), which has been adopted by the South African Department of Health and it is commonly referred as EPI (SA). These are in the normal schedule of vaccines and are free of charge.

In addition to EPI (SA) funded vaccines, there are other vaccines available in the private sector. I have both, the state supplied vaccines and also the other alternative and optional ones.

Here is a outline of clinic visits and vaccinations needed:

With every visit, the consultation takes about 30 minutes. During this time your baby will be weight and measured and any questions or concerns discussed. The initial 2 week visit or first visit normally takes a bit longer, 30-45 minutes, as there is much more to discuss and examine.

With all consultations, any problems and/or concerns that you might have, will be discussed. Advice will be given and you will receive handouts about your baby at that specific age and time. If baby is then due for a vaccination it will also be done.

** At birth in hospital: 

• Polio drops (0)
• BCG injection (vaccine against TB- please read about possible effects at bottom of the page)
• Hep B dose 1 (This is often given in the private hospitals. It is required, if Infanrix-hexa is the choice of vaccine at 6 weeks)

** 2 weeks:

• General baby check-up and weigh. This is important because all babies loose weigh initially and babies should be back at birth weight at 2 weeks.
• Mommy check can be done
• Questions and concerns are dealt with
• Discussion about vaccinations due from age of 6 weeks

**6 – 8 weeks: (*state supplied, #alternative)

• Questions and advise
• Baby check-up
• Vaccinations:
• OPV*
• Pentaxim* (5-in-1) (1st dose)
• HBV* (1st dose)
• Prevenar* (1st dose)
• Rotarix* (1st dose)
• alternatively the Pentaxim and HBV can be exchanged with Infanrix-hexa# (1st dose). With this option there will be 1 injection less.

**10 – 12 weeks: (*state supplied, #alternative)

• General check-up
• Vaccinations:
• Pentaxim* (5-in-1) (2nd dose)
• HBV* (2nd dose)
• alternatively the Pentaxim and HBV can be exchanged with Infanrix-hexa# (2nd dose). With this option there will be 1 injection less.

**14 – 16 weeks: (*state supplied, #alternative)

• General check-up
• Vaccinations
• Pentaxim* (5-in-1) (3rd dose)
• HBV* (3rd dose)
• Prevenar* (2nd dose)
• Rotarix* (2nd dose)
• alternatively the Pentaxim and HBV can be exchanged with Infanrix-hexa# (3rd dose). With this option there will be 1 injection less

**6 months: (*state supplied)

• General check-up
• Vitamine A drops*

**9 months: (*state supplied, #by medical aid or cash)

• General check-up
• Vaccinations
• Rouvax#
• Prevenar* (3rd dose)

• General check-up
• Vaccinations
• Varilrix#
• Avaxim# (1st dose)

**15 months: (*state supplied, #medical aid or cash)

• General check-up
• Vaccinations
• Priorix#
• Prevenar# (4th dose)

**18 months: (*state supplied, #optional extra)

• General check-up
• Vitamine A drops
• Vaccinations
• Pentaxim* (4th dose)
• Avaxim# (2nd dose)
• Alternatively Infanrix-hexa# can be used in place of the Pentaxim.

**2 years:

• General check-up
• Vitamine A drops

Other optional extras: (all optional extras)

• Vaccinations:
• This is for cervical cancer, genital wards
• Cervarix (Female: > 10 yrs = given at 0, 1, 6 months)
• OR 
• Gardisil (Females: 9-26 yrs and Males: 9-17 yrs = given at 0, 2, 6 months)

What are the possible side-effects of vaccinations?

The likelihood of these side-effects have reduced dramatically within the last couple of years, due to newer and better vaccinations.

However, these are the most common possible side-effects that cauld occur within 24-48 hours post-vaccination:

• Redness, warmth and swelling at the site of immunisation
• Increase in body temperature
• Sleepiness
• Irritability and persistent crying
• Disinterest in food
• Body rash

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Here is a brief explanation of uses of vaccines. 

OPV Orl polio vaccine

Pentaxim Diptheria, Tetanus, accellular Pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b and Polio

HBV Hepatitis B

Infanrix-hexa(6-in-1 injection)-Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Polio, Hepatitis B

dT Diptheria, Tetanus

PCV (Prevenar) Pneumococcal Vaccine: Prevention against Pneumococcal bacteria which can cause pneumonia, septesimia, otitis media and meningitis which could be fatal in children.

Synflorix Pneumococcal Vaccine: Prevention against Pneumococcal bacteria which can cause pneumonia, septesimia, otitis media and meningitis which could be fatal in children.

Rotarix Prevention against Rota-virus (gastro in babies and children)

Rouvax Measles vaccine

Varilrix Chickenpox vaccine (It is recommended that this is given on its own and not together with

Rouvax (measels) on same day)

Avaxim Hepatitis A vaccine

Priorix Measels, Mumps, Rubella

Gardasil The only Quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV= Human Papillomavirus)

• Gardasil will protect against HPV 6, 11, 16 + 18- this means against Cervical, Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers and Genital warts.

Cervarix An HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine

• for protection against HPV 16 + 18- meaning against Cervical, Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers and Genital warts.

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Medical aids cover most vaccines. Please contact your medical aid for details

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