Childhood Immunisations; everything you need to know

In the UK, all children are offered immunisations to protect them from potentially serious or life threatening diseases. The vaccination schedule begins at 8 weeks and at Students’ Health Service (SHS) we offer the full range of vaccines (except BCG). View the current routine immunisation schedule here.

Once registered at SHS, you will be invited to make an appointment for your children if they require vaccination. If you have come to Bristol from another country, please inform us of the vaccination history of your children, so we can continue to protect them while you are here. if you have moved from elsewhere in the UK your child’s records will follow, but please bring your Red Book.

If you require a relative or nanny to bring your child for their vaccinations, you will need to notify us in writing. Please see our consent policy.

It is natural as a parent to feel anxious about bringing your baby/child for their vaccinations. If you have a new baby they will be seen by a doctor at 6 weeks old, for consent to immunisation,  and by a nurse at 8 weeks for their first vaccinations. Older children will not need to see a doctor first.

It is important to bring the child’s ‘Red Book’ or vaccination history with you so the correct vaccinations are given and recorded.

It is a good idea for your child to be dressed in easy to remove clothing and to inform older children about what is going to happen to them. This makes it less stressful for them.

When vaccines are given, you will be asked to sit your child on your knee and hug them firmly. The whole process is very quick!

Sometimes after a vaccination, children will develop a mild fever. It is ok to give them infant paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring their temperature down.

 

For further details see below:

 

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/vaccination-schedule-age-checklist.aspx

Students With Children!

Combining studying at University with raising a family can be a challenge but we are here to help. We recognise that not all students are the same. Whilst we offer a specialised Students’ Health Service tailored to the needs of our patients, we are also an NHS general practice. As such we provide services that student parents may be interested in. This includes antenatal and postnatal care for mothers. Then after the baby is delivered we offer the full range of child health checks and recommended immunisations.

 When necessary we also provide travel advice and immunisations for children as well as adults. We work closely with our Health Visitors to support families. Within the university there is now even a coffee morning run by the UBU. It takes place every Thursday during term time 9.30-11am. Students can go along to meet other parents and bring their children. Click on the link to find out more;

www.ubu.org.uk/studentparents