Are the vaccines licensed in the UK?
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How are they imported ?
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Why can't we just have the measles vaccine?
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Do I have to have all three vaccinations?
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Does the patient require a booster with the separate vaccines?
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What About Chicken Pox?
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How long between vaccinations?
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How does the vaccine work?
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How old does a child have to be to have these vaccines?
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Are the vaccines licensed in the UK?
Unlicensed medicines are widely used within the NHS throughout the UK. The Chicken pox vaccines are licensed in the UK. The Measles, Rubella and Mumps are not; This means they can only be administered by a doctor.
However, they are are manufactured in the USA, France and India, (where they are licensed) and imported by UK pharmaceutical suppliers who hold a special licence to import unlicensed medicines. The pharmaceutical suppliers used are registered by the Medicines Control Agency, (MHRA) who oversees their importation.
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How are they imported?
Our system of importation, ensures that the vaccines are kept between 2 and 8 degrees from manufacturers to the CHILDREN'S IMMUNISATION CENTRE where they are transferred to our clinical fridge and stored according to manufacturers recommendations. Our staff have personally inspected the exporters/importers facilities.
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Why can't we just have the measles vaccine?
The Department of Health's policy promotes vaccination for all children against Measles Mumps and Rubella. The NHS offers the triple MMR vaccine, therefore we offer a course of single mono component vaccines i.e. Measles, Mumps and Rubella to protect both your child and other children from these diseases. To not offer all three would lessen overall immunity (herd immunity) in the population and endanger children that have an immune system that does not function properly.
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Do I have to have all three vaccinations?
In line with Government directives, we advise parents who take up the separate vaccines that their children finish the full course of injections. Parents will be asked to sign a consent form to this effect (a copy of this may be requested). There is sometimes a shortage of mumps vaccine; we do our best to inform patients of availability.
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Does the patient require a booster with the separate vaccines?
Having single vaccinations gives a better immunity level than the combined MMR jab (97% vs 87%). However, eventhough the immunity level is high, young children can and do lose their immunity to a virus.
We therefore recommend that 3 and half year olds have their boosters to ensure lifelong immunity.
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What About Chicken Pox?
In America and Canada all children are vaccinated against this childhood disease through their government vaccination programme. This is done from 1 years old to prevent them getting chicken pox and passing the infection on to people in whom chickenpox can be a very serious disease.
In the UK this is not offered in the NHS free unless the child is 12 years old and has not had Chicken pox. We offer this privately, so that your child can avoid the discomfort and scarring that chicken pox causes.
We currently use the Varilrix (Merck) vaccine
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How long between vaccinations?
The World Health Organisation states that there must be at least 4 weeks between childhood vaccinations. Accordingly, we leave a gap of 6 weeks between appointments. Please note that patients should also leave a gap after/before HIB vaccination.
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How does the vaccine work?
When the body is exposed to foreign organisms, the immune system produces antibodies, which are specific to the infecting agent, and their first function is to help the body, and kill the foreign organisms. The antibodies remain in the body and recognise any future infection with the same organism. This is known as active immunity.
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How old does a child have to be to have these vaccines?
Manufacturers recommend children be 12 months of age. The centre would like the child to be at least 13 months old; there is no upper limit.
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