Vaccines, also called vaccinations or shots, can protect your baby from a range of potentially fatal illnesses. It’s natural to be concerned about a child receiving them, though, so let’s look at some recommended vaccines and their benefits in more detail.

So, what are vaccines?

Vaccines introduce a small amount of weakened or inactivated virus into your immune system, forcing it to produce antibodies (proteins that fight against specific diseases), which let your body recognise and deal with the disease before it makes you ill.

They’ve been used for over two centuries, most famously to eradicate conditions such as smallpox. They also drastically reduce the incidence of others. A baby’s underdeveloped immune system is particularly vulnerable to the illnesses they fight, far more so than the immunity of adults or even older children.

Vaccines offer a safe and effective way to protect babies from a range of diseases that can cause serious complications, including brain damage, deafness, and paralysis.

Some of these include:

Measles (as well as the pneumonia and brain damage it can cause in infants)
Polio, with its potential for causing paralysis in babies
Whooping cough, which can cause severe coughing and breathing difficulties
Rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydrate your baby terribly,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), which can cause meningitis and pneumonia

It’s well worth noting that vaccinating your babies also helps prevent these conditions from spreading through your community.

In the UK, the National Health Service recommends that your child receive the following:

A 5-in-1 vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections. This is given to babies at eight, 12, and 16 weeks of age.

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against pneumococcal infections that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. This is given to babies at eight and 16 weeks of age. The rotavirus vaccine prevents a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting in babies and young children. This is given to babies at eight and 12 weeks of age.

The MenB vaccine protects against meningococcal group B bacteria that can cause meningitis and sepsis. Given at eight weeks, 16 weeks, and one year of age.

The Hib/MenC vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and meningococcal group C bacteria that can cause meningitis and other serious infections. This is given to babies in the UK at one year of age. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella and is typically given at one year of age, with a second dose at three years and four months of age.

A four-in-one preschool booster protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and polio. These are given at three years and four months of age. Finally, the HPV vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause certain types of cancer. This is given at ages 12–13.

You should follow the recommended vaccination schedule in the country where you live to ensure that your baby is protected against serious diseases. Your GP can provide you with more information and answer any other questions you may have about vaccinations.

Are vaccines safe for my baby?

Absolutely yes. All of the vaccines that are recommended for babies have undergone rigorous testing to ensure their safety and effectiveness. They have also been used for many years.

Side effects like fussiness, soreness at the injection site, and fever are usually very mild and disappear on their own. Severe side effects are rare, and despite some conflicting advice you may see online, the benefits of vaccines far outweigh any drawbacks.

Which vaccinations does my baby need?

On Unii’s Baby Health Journey, we stress the importance of having your baby vaccinated.