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Immunisation: Why It is Necessary

Childhood diseases can have very serious effects upon your baby. That’s why your newborn baby needs all the care and protection that you can give. You can start by immunising your baby against dangerous childhood diseases.

When your baby is immunised against a disease, his body will produce antibodies to fight off that disease. With some immunisations, one dose is enough to last a lifetime; others require additional booster doses according to a schedule.

Every Child Should Be Immunised Early Against These Diseases

There are ten potentially dangerous childhood diseases against which immunisations are available.

Childhood Diseases
Disease Description
Diphtheria Starts as a throat infection, but can cause obstruction to breathing and death.
Hepatitis B An infection of the liver that may have no symptoms. It can lead to liver failure or liver cancer in adulthood.
Measles Starts with high fever and a rash. Lung infection, deafness and brain damage can occur.
Mumps An infection of the salivary glands. It can lead to brain infection, deafness or sterility.
Pertussis (whooping cough) Causes prolonged attacks of coughing and can result in pneumonia (lung infection) or brain damage.
Pneumococcal infection Causes lung infection, inflammation of the membrane or lining that protects the brain, and ear infection.
Poliomyelitis Starts with mild fever but can result in paralysis and deformed arms or legs.
Rubella (German measles) Complications in children are rare. Women infected during early pregnancy may give birth to deaf, blind or mentally retarded babies.
Tetanus Causes severe muscle contractions, including those muscles that control swallowing and breathing. It often leads to death.


Did You Know That:

  • Basic immunisation (except for hepatitis B and pneumococcus) is provided free at Polyclinics. However, optional immunisation for chickenpox, meningitis (Haemophilus influenzae type b - Hib) and hepatitis A are available at a fee. Please check with your family doctor or at any Polyclinic.
  • Immunisation is only given when a child is found to be fit.
  • When your child registers for primary school, the School will check your child’s immunisation certificates to see if he or she has completed all the recommended immunisations.
  • Booster doses for various immunisations for school-going children will be given at the School Health Service.