Understand childhood immunisation
Table of Contents
Case Study
There is a young mum settling her child in to your provision and she tells you during the settling process that she has not had her 12-month-old son vaccinated against any of the common illnesses that most children are vaccinated against. You are very concerned as you know that it is considered best for all children to be vaccinated. Your setting policy states that you should record the dates that children have been given their vaccinations, but it doesn’t say anything about those who have not had them. It has just been generally accepted that parents sending their child to your setting will have had the routine vaccinations for their child.
You ask the parent why she has refrained from this very important offer to have her child protected against various nasty diseases. She tells you that this is her second child and that her first child, her daughter, was fully immunised and had become quite unwell following each injection, with a high temperature, poor sleep and irritable mood after each one. Later, following the MMR vaccination, her daughter had convulsions. As a result, she will not risk her son in the same way.
- What will you do now?
- What is your reaction to this and is that an acceptable reaction?
- Will you accept her child in to your provision?
- Should you consider not accepting the child? Is this legal?
- Should the setting’s policy on vaccinations be updated or adjusted in any way?
- What is the best way to protect an unvaccinated child?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.