WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR CONSULTATION:

Your child’s full medical history will be taken by our registered general practitioner to establish fitness for vaccination. This also provides an opportunity for you to discuss in full any concerns or queries you may have.
You will also be asked to complete an ‘on the day’ health questionnaire, a copy of which is included within this information pack.
It is important to note that if any question is answered in the affirmative, vaccination may be delayed to ensure that your child is in optimum health when the vaccine is administered.

QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO ASK:

Q. Is there a difference between the single and combined MMR vaccines?

A. Both methods use the same strength and strains as recommended by the WHO, the only difference is that we allow a gap of twelve weeks between the administration of each vaccine.

Q. If the single vaccines are safe, why are they unlicensed?

A. Many paediatric drugs and vaccines e.g. BCG, currently
used in the Health Service are unlicensed. Unlicensed simply means that they are not manufactured in this country and may only be imported on a named patient basis, by companies regulated and licensed by the medicines and health regulatory body of Ireland.

Q. Do the single vaccines contain Mercury?

A. None of these vaccines contain Mercury or Thiomersal.

Q. Why can’t I get these from my GP?

A. GP’s are required follow the guidelines laid down by the Department of Health which advocate the use of the combined MMR vaccine.

Q. Are there any side effects to these vaccines?

A. All vaccines, be it combined or single, can have side effects which very rarely could include an acute allergic reaction. The most common reactions would be a rise in temperature, flu like symptoms, irritability and redness and swelling around the site of the injection. With the measles and rubella vaccines a rash may develop 7 – 14 days after the vaccination. With the mumps vaccination there may be swelling around the jaw line any time up to six weeks post vaccination. These and the management of the symptoms will be discussed in more depth during your consultation..

Q. How do I know that the vaccines are kept in the proper conditions?

A. They are transported to us from the suppliers by firms licensed to transport vaccines within the ‘cold chain’. This means that they are stored at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Each container has a temperature gauge which verifies the temperature throughout the journey.
On arrival at the clinic, a designated member of staff verifies the temperature and transfers the vaccine to the specially designed refrigerators. The temperatures are recorded twice daily and these records retained for scrutiny by relevant authorities.

Q. How will my GP know what vaccines my child has had.

A. On completion of the vaccination programme, with your permission, we will inform your GP of the vaccine administered, the date the vaccine was given, the vaccine’s manufacturer, batch number, expiry date and the vaccination site. This information will also be given to you in the form of an insert for your child’s health record. This information will also be retained at the clinic within your child’s file.