If you are at all concerned over the issue of whether to immunize your child you should speak to your doctor. There have been various scare stories in the media but they have turned out to be unsubstantiated and simply caused concern among parents,

It is true that some people are strongly opposed to immunizing their child and believe that these disease are not dangerous for otherwise healthy children. In truth these disease can have potentially fatal consequences, especially if complications occur. Severe reactions to immunizations are very rare and the benefits simply out weigh the risks. Doctors will be vigilant after immunising to watch for any immediate allergic reaction and treat immediately.

For a young baby or child Meningitis can be life threatening. The symptoms can develop very quickly and the consequences simply devastating, from amputation of limbs to the death of your child. Therefore immunizing your child against this serious disease is crucial and not worth the risk should you fail to do so.

You can minimise any risk of reaction to the shot by following your doctors advice carefully. They will provide information and guidelines to follow pre and post immunization.

It is preferred that your child is in generally good health before their immunization as this reduces the potential for reaction to the shot. A common cold in general is fine and not a reason to put off the treatment.

When your child has received their first dose of vaccine keep an eye on how they respond to see if they have any adverse reaction to the immunization. If you are in any way unsure discuss it with the doctor before their booster as the doctor can then decide how to proceed. In rare cases some child do have reactions such as febrile convulsions which may change future treatment plans, again these are in a minority of cases.

It is normal to expect your child to experience a mild fever after their immunization and you can treat this with an infant paracetamol product. Follow only your doctors guidelines on dosage and frequency as they will calculate this on the weight of your child and their age.

At the site of the injection you may notice localised swelling, this is very normal and will soon disappear.

As long as you are careful to follow doctor's guidelines and keep appointments for boosters you can be assured your child has received all possible protection.

You should always be vigilant with your child as Meningitis is highly contagious and by mixing with other children it is easy for your child to contract. There immune systems are immature and so they are at risk from childhood diseases such as Mumps, Measles and Meningitis.

Learn to identify the symptoms as prompt action can save your child's life. If your child complains of a stiff neck, is sensitive to light, seems pale, lacks energy or develops a purple rash that does not blanch when pressed with a glass seek immediate medical assistance. If you are in any doubt take your child to hospital, no one will mind if it is an over reaction, far better to be safe than sorry.