Dealing with side effects
Minor side effects after immunisations are relatively common, but they’re usually short-lived. Your child may get redness and swelling at the site of the injection, have a fever, feel unwell, or seem generally out of sorts. A slight rash, particularly after the MMR jab, is common. You can usually relieve such side effects by giving your child the recommended dose of infant paracetamol or ibuprofen, before or after the jab.
Serious side effects after vaccination are rare, but seek medical advice if your child has any of the following after immunisation:
- A convulsion (fit)
- Persistent fever over 39.5°C
- Extreme reaction, such as continual and painful swelling, at the site of the injection
- Breathing difficulties, large weals on the skin, or loss of consciousness, which can be symptoms of a relatively rare allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If you suspect your child is suffering from anaphylaxis, take her to your nearest accident and emergency department immediately.
Serious side effects are rare, but they do happen. But bear in mind that all the immunisations offered in the UK are far less likely to cause complications than getting the disease. For instance, meningitis or encephalitis affects fewer than one in a million infants receiving the MMR vaccine, but 1 in 300–400 children who contract mumps.
Seek advice from your GP or health visitor before immunisation if your child:
- Has an acute illness accompanied by fever. Your GP is likely to advise you to delay vaccination until the illness has settled. (This does not include mild coughs, colds, and earaches.)
- Has had a bad reaction to a previous immunisation. This significantly increases the chance of a bad reaction to later similar immunisations.
- Has an allergy to eggs (the MMR vaccine is prepared in eggs. While the amount of egg contained in the vaccine is so small that it probably won’t cause a problem even if your child has a severe allergy, your GP may recommend that your child has the vaccination carried out under close supervision at the hospital).
- Has ever had a convulsion (fit).
- Has any illness that affects her immune system, for example HIV or AIDS. (A child whose immune system is not working properly should not have live vaccines.)
- Is taking any medicines that affect her immune system, for example immunosuppressants following organ transplant, high-dose steroids, or chemotherapy.
