Children’s immunisation service

Single and small combination baby vaccines: FAQs

BABY VACCINES

Vaccines at a glance

FAQs

Vaccine Prices

Unlicensed vaccines
	Are the vaccines you offer licensed for use in the UK?
	The vaccines offered at BabyJabs include some that are licensed for use in the UK and others that are unlicensed.
	Are doctors allowed to give unlicensed vaccines?
	Yes, if they feel that there is no satisfactory licensed alternative. Doctors often use unlicensed medicines. For example, 7% of all hospital prescriptions for children are for unlicensed drugs.
	What are the implications of the vaccines being unlicensed?
	This means that they have not passed through the Department of Health's quality control procedures. It also means that they have to be ordered on a 'named patient' basis. This requires that each vaccine be ordered for an individual named child with the clinical reasons that the vaccine is needed.
	My child is healthy. What would the clinical reason be to order the single vaccines for my child?
	If, after informed consideration, you refuse to allow your child to be given the vaccines recommended by the NHS, then your child remains unprotected against various diseases. The only way to protect your child in these circumstances is to give him or her alternative vaccines, which may be unlicensed. This is the clinical indication.

Manufacture, transport and storage
	Where are the vaccines you offer manufactured?
	They are all manufactured in either Western Europe, North America or India by large multinational pharmaceutical companies. See the separate vaccine sheets for more information on this.
	Are they 'licensed' for use in other countries?
	Yes, they are all licensed for use in one or more countries in Western Europe, the USA or Canada.
	How are the vaccines transported to your clinic?
	They are imported by companies that specialise in importing drugs from abroad and have approval from the Department of Health (DoH) to import the vaccines. They arrive at our premises in temperature-controlled conditions.
	How do you store the vaccines?
	They are stored in temperature-controlled fridges especially designed for vaccine storage.
	How long can the vaccines be stored?
	The 'shelf life' or expiry date will vary from batch to batch, but is usually a year or longer. Vaccines are never used after their expiry date.
	Do the vaccines contain mercury or aluminium?
	At BabyJabs, we do not offer vaccines containing mercury. It is very hard to obtain vaccines free from aluminium, but, where possible, we use vaccines that are aluminium-free.

Safety
	Are the vaccines you offer safe?
	They are all manufactured by large reputable manufacturers, based in Western Europe or North America. We source vaccines that are as free from additives and contaminants as possible in order to help minimise side effects. However, no medical intervention can ever be guaranteed to be 100% safe.
	Do the vaccines have side effects?
	All vaccines have side effects. We try to minimise these, by offering less vaccines at any one time than are given on the NHS, and by selecting vaccines with as few additives and contaminants as possible.
	Who is liable if something goes wrong?
	We, at BabyJabs, are responsible in the normal way for any advice and treatment that we offer. The pharmaceutical companies remain responsible for the quality of their products.
	Do you keep a record of the batch number of the vaccines?
	Yes, we keep a record of the batch numbers of the vaccines in our own records. We will also add this information to your child's personal health record book (usually a 'red' book), and will also provide with a personalised BabyJabs immunisaiton record card for your child.
	How will my GP know that my child has been immunised?
	We will send a letter to your GP after every attendance at BabyJabs, outlining what vaccines your child has received.
	What are the advantages of giving vaccines separately?
	This will allow your baby to receive fewer vaccines at each attendance, and to spread out the overall vaccine load; however, there is no conclusive evidence that this is better or safer that giving the vaccines all together. However, there is scientific research that suggests that delaying vaccination may reduce your child’s risk of developing allergic disorders such as asthma and hay fever.
	What are the disadvantages of giving vaccines separately?
	Spreading out the vaccines will usually result in a delay in the time it takes for your child to be protected against the various diseases. However, it is not necessary for most children to be protected against diseases such as tetanus and polio in the first few months of life.
	What is the safest immunisaiton schedule for my child?
	There is no one schedule that is best for all children. The purpose of BabyJabs is to provide you with enough information so that you can decide what vaccines to give your child and when to given them. At BabyJabs we view each child as unique and do not believe that there is one schedule that is right for all children.

Effectiveness
	Are the vaccines you offer as effective as those given on the NHS?
	They are all sourced form the same manufacturers that provide the vaccines for the NHS, and are all of similar effectiveness.
	How many doses will my child require?
	This will depend on which vaccines you choose to give your child. At your initial consultation with Dr Halvorsen, an individualised immunisaiton plan will be agreed for your child. The total number of vaccines required will depend on which vaccines you choose and when they are given.
	How does the timing of the vaccinations affect how many vaccines are needed?
	Some vaccines, such as Hib and Men C, can be given less often if given later, for example after 12 months, rather than at 2,3 and 4 months.

Practicalities
	What should I do if my child has started the NHS vaccine schedule, but I now wish to come to you?
	This does not prevent your child from having any of the other single vaccines. The vaccines offered at BabyJabs can be used to complete courses started on the NHS or in other countries.
	Will I be able to travel after my child has been given the vaccine?
	Yes. Unless your child shows immediate signs of a bad reaction to the vaccine (which is extremely unlikely) you will be allowed to leave shortly after your child has received the immunisation.

Miscellaneous questions
	What are the disadvantages of giving the vaccines separately or in small combinations?
	This is likely to delay the time by which your child is protected against all the diseases vaccinated against. The DoH would also be concerned that you may not give your child all the recommended vaccines. Depending on which vaccines you select, your child may require more injections than would be given on the NHS schedule.
	At what age should I start to vaccinate my baby?
	The earliest age at which you should start the vaccines is 8 weeks, the age at which vaccination is started on the NHS. However, there could be advantages in delaying vaccination by a few months as this may reduce the risk of your child’s developing asthma in later life. This can be discussed when planning your child’s individual immunisation schedule.
	Which vaccines are the most important?
	This depends on your child’s health and circumstances. All vaccines offer benefits associated with risks, and it is difficult to rank them in order of importance. This can be discussed in a consultation with Dr Halvorsen, bearing in mind your child’s unique situation.
	Which vaccines can I safely leave out?
	Some vaccines are probably less important than others for most children. For example, mumps is very rarely a serious illness, and the necessity of vaccinating all children is questionable. Diseases such as Meningitis C and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) are very uncommon, and you may decide that the risk to your child does not warrant vaccination.
	What can I do if I have more questions?
	If you wish to give your child single or small dose vaccines, you are strongly encouraged to book an initial consultation with Dr Halvorsen, so that you can discuss and agree on an individual immunisation schedule for your child that best meets your wishes and concerns.

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BabyJabs - The Children's Immunisation Service that enables you to make an informed choice of vaccines for your child