What can I do to reduce the risk of immunization making my baby ill?

The only thing you can do to help your baby is be aware of baby’s physical condition, both before and after the vaccination event. If baby seems unwell when vaccination is due, be sure to discuss the condition of the baby with your doctor. The doctor may decide to reschedule the injection depending on what is wrong with baby and the severity of the condition. While you may prefer to only immunize when baby is in sound health, this may not be practical as it is important to adhere to the immunization schedule as closely as possible. For example, if baby is at crèche baby may be prone to colds, and it may be completely impractical to reschedule every time baby is under the weather. This is an important issue to clear up with your doctor.

In addition you should keep a very close eye on baby for 2-3 days after the vaccination. Baby may have a red lump where the injection was administered. Baby may have a slight fever and be fractious and have no appetite. These reactions are normal.

Become informed about the vaccinations that your baby is having. Keep notes about baby’s reaction to immunization. Ensure that the doctor or nurse administering the vaccination has kept careful records of the data concerning the vaccine (manufacturer and lot or batch number)