Protects against:
Influenza (commonly known as the flu). The flu is an extremely contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory tract. Although the body is usually able to fight the infection on its own, symptoms associated with the flu — such as high fever, cough and runny nose — can cause great discomfort, especially in young children and the elderly. It is not unheard of for people to die of the flu. The flu vaccine can reduce the average person’s chance of getting the flu by up to 80%.

Dosage:
Flu viruses constantly change and the vaccine is updated annually to accommodate the latest strains. This means that the protection a child received from one shot can wear off after about 12 months. As such, doctors recommend having the flu shot every year. The flu vaccine may be given from six months of age.

When kids younger than three years old receive the flu shot for the first time, two doses are given a month apart.  Subsequently, only one shot a year is needed. It can take the body up to a month after the shot is given to build up resistance against flu viruses.

Most obvious side effects:
Pain, low-grade fever, mild flu like symptoms and/ or swelling at the injection site

Protects against:
Hepatitis A, a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV).  The virus can cause jaundice (yellow-tinged skin and eyes), fever, nausea, severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and even death. The virus can be found in the stools of the infected person. It can be spread through close contact. As such, children who attend day-care centres are among those at risk. The vaccine is highly recommended for children aged between one and two years old.

Dosage:
Two doses, given six months apart.

Most obvious side effects:
Mild fever, headache, loss of appetite and/ or swelling at the injection site

Protects against:
Pneumococcal disease (PD), caused by the streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumococcus is the leading cause of pneumonia (lung infection), meningitis, bacteraemia (blood infection), acute otitis media (ear infection) and sinusitis (infection of the sinuses) in children aged two months to five year old. Pre-schoolers
and day care students are at especially high risk of PD. PD can lead to death and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is the most effective way to prevent its spread. The vaccine can also significantly reduce ear infections.

Dosage:
Four doses are given: given at two, four and six months old. PCV is given to children aged nine years and below so an older child who has missed vaccination may still receive it. Ask your doctor about the recommended immunisation schedule for an older child.

Protects against:
Pneumococcal disease (PD), caused by the streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumococcus is the leading cause of pneumonia (lung infection), meningitis, bacteraemia (blood infection), acute otitis media (ear infection) and sinusitis (infection of the sinuses) in children aged two months to five year old. Pre-schoolers and day care students are at especially high risk of PD. PD can lead to death and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is the most effective way to prevent its spread. The vaccine can also significantly reduce ear infections.

Dosage:
Four doses are given: at two, four and six months old. PCV is given to children aged nine years and below so an older child who has missed vaccination may still receive it. Ask your doctor about the recommended immunisation schedule for an older child.

Pneumococcal vaccine – 1st dose (Pneumococcal disease)
Rotavirus vaccine – 1st dose (Rotavirus gastroenteritis)

Pneumococcal vaccine – 2nd dose (Pneumococcal disease)
Rotavirus vaccine – 2nd dose (Rotavirus gastroenteritis)

Flu vaccine – (Influenza) - annual dose thereafter
Pneumococcal vaccine – 3rd dose (Pneumococcal disease)

Hepatitis A vaccine – 1st dose (Hepatitis A)
Hepatitis A vaccine – 2nd dose (6 months after first dose)
Pneumococcal vaccine – 4th dose (Pneumococcal disease)
Varicella vaccine –Chickenpox