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A vaccination expert commented on a story about the changes of timings to vaccinations for babies.
Dr David Elliman, Consultant in Community Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, said:
“The Department of Health has recommended that routine practice should be to offer the boosters of Hib and Meningococcal C (Hib/Men C) and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccines and the first MMR vaccine should be given on the same visit, between 12 and 13 months, but as the three separate injections.
“In the autumn of 2006, the immunisation schedule changed and it was recommended that a single injection containing boosters of Hib and Meningococcal C vaccines (Hib/Men C) should be given at 12 months and a booster of pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) and a separate injection with the first MMR at 13 months. It was recommended that the Hib/Men C and PCV boosters should not be given at the same time, as there was no evidence that this would provide good immunity and have no increase in side effects.
“Research has now been done that shows that giving the Hib/Men C, PCV and MMR vaccines at the same time is both safe and effective. Further research has shown that it is acceptable to the majority of parents to give the three injections at the same time. The Department of Health has therefore recommended that routine practice should be that the Hib/Men C, PCV and MMR vaccines should be given on the same visit, but as the three separate injections.”