Vaccines – Back to school

Full immunisation from infancy is essential to support protection against life-threatening diseases,^1-4 particularly before your child starts preschool, school, or tertiary education, ^2,5,6 where they could be at risk due to increased contact with others.⁶

• Diphtheria is spread by person-to-person contact, or by touching objects that have the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae on them. It is also transmitted if you’re around an infected person that coughs or sneezes.⁷ Diphtheria can cause severe kidney, nervous system and heart damage, and can be fatal.⁷

• Tetanus is caused by a toxin-producing bacteria⁸ due to exposure to contaminated dirt, soil, faeces, rust, saliva,⁸ an animal bite, a foreign object in a wound or a deep cut.⁸ Tetanus is a serious disease commonly known as lockjaw.⁸ It can cause breathing problems, pneumonia or block the arteries of the lungs, and could lead to death.⁸

• Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. It is transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs nearby, and the tiny germ laden droplets are inhaled into the lungs.⁹  Complications include pneumonia, slow or stopped breathing, dehydration, seizures or brain damage.⁹

• Hepatitis b is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis b virus.¹⁰ It is spread when infected blood, semen, or other bodily fluids enters the body. People can also become infected from birth (mother-to-child), sex with an infected partner, sharing needles, toothbrushes, razors, or via the blood or open sores of an infected person.¹⁰ Hepatitis b is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, kissing, coughing or sneezing.¹⁰  Hepatitis b causes inflammation of the liver, affecting its function.¹⁰ The disease may progress to what is known as chronic hepatitis b, which is a lifelong illness¹⁰ causing cirrhosis (liver scarring affecting function),¹¹ liver cancer or even death.¹⁰

• Poliomyelitis (polio) is caused by the poliovirus.¹² It is very contagious and enters the body through the mouth. Polio is spread through contact with an infected person’s faeces, or less commonly, from the sneezing or coughing of an infected person.¹²  Polio can infect a person’s spinal cord causing paralysis, which could lead to permanent disability and death.¹² It may cause meningitis (infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain), or paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles in the legs).¹²

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), is a type of bacteria that causes a life threatening infection, which can lead to serious illness, especially in children.¹³ Hib is spread mainly through coughing, sneezing or contact with secretions from the nose and throat of an infected person.¹³  Complications that could develop from Hib include meningitis (infection of the membrane covering the brain), epiglottitis (inflammation of the flap at the top of the windpipe, which could block breathing) or pneumonia (lung inflammation).¹³

• Several different bacteria can cause invasive meningococcal disease, with Neisseria meningitidis being one of the most important because of its potential to cause epidemics.¹⁴ It is transmitted by an infected person through close contact (e.g. sneezing or coughing), living in close quarters (e.g. students), sharing eating or drinking utensils etc.¹⁴  Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious infection that can be fatal.¹⁵ For those that survive, it can cause long-term disabilities including deafness, brain damage, neurological problems, and even loss of a limb.¹⁵

From infancy through to adulthood

Vaccinate for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis b, polio and haemophilus influenzae type b infections¹⁶

INFANT

PRIMARY VACCINATION:
Age: 6, 10 and 14 weeks^16,17

TODDLER

BOOSTER VACCINATION:
Age: 18 months^16,17

Vaccinate for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio²

SCHOOL ENTRY

SCHOOL ENTRY BOOSTER:
Age: Suitable for children 6 years of age^2,16

Vaccinate for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, following primary immunisation.²

ADOLESCENT / ADULT / ELDERLY

BOOSTER:

Age: From 12 years^2,16

Booster recommended every 10 years²

Vaccinate for prevention of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis³

INFANT

PRIMARY VACCINATION:

Age: Between 9 and 23 months
2 doses: 3 months apart ³

ADOLESCENT / ADULT

SINGLE DOSES:

Age: 24 months – 55 years³

Sanofi Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines, offers a range of vaccines against preventable diseases such as: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis b, meningococcal disease, whooping cough and haemophilus influenzae type b infections.¹⁸

Ask your healthcare provider for more information about the vaccines that are most appropriate for your child