Question about immunisation

**One Sock** · 27-05-2010, 10:03am

Just musing really as was looking in L's red book to sort out her next set of jabs (the 16 week ones).

Does anyone know why they have the same ones three times (Dipththeria, Tetanus, whooping cough, Polio)? Is it because they give a v small dose each time or because sometimes the first shot doesn't always work or what?

Am off to have a look on the NHS website to see if I can find out but thought some wise Damsel might know.

As I said, is just me randomly wondering - is not something that is worrying me or would affect my decision to get her jabbed.

**girlskull** · 27-05-2010, 10:30am

Will be interested to see responses to this - I was wondering myself a few months ago.

**One Sock** · 27-05-2010, 11:45am

Can't find anything on NHS Choices about it...

**1980babe** · 27-05-2010, 11:54am

Im thinking its because they cant give the whole dose at once.

I was given the whooping cough vaccines as a baby, but I then went on to catch whooping cough mid teens.

**Dr Spouse** · 27-05-2010, 01:55pm

I am not sure if it is the same for all of them but some have a booster I know because it is about 90% the first time and then out of the other 10%, they'll work on another 90% so making it up to 99%.

I believe for others it is because immunity wears off (so I have to have Yellow Fever every 10 years as it wears off).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccina...f_vaccinations

**Skerry Berry** · 27-05-2010, 02:10pm

Having the three injections completes the immunisation course and helps ensure complete cover against the diseases. If a baby was to only have two of the three injections, then they would not be completely covered and would require the third at a later stage.