Abstract
After clean water, immunisation is the most effective public health intervention for the prevention of disease and an important component of the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) ( Department of Health (DH), 2009 ). As leaders of the HCP, health visitors are a trusted and key source of advice for parents on the childhood immunisation programme, but keeping up-to-date can prove challenging in view of frequent changes to the schedule. This article describes the most recent changes, including the introduction of meningococcal B and ACWY vaccines to the schedule and the extension of the influenza vaccine to some older children. The success of the rotavirus programme is described and continuing issues for the maternal pertussis and influenza vaccine programmes discussed. In addition, possible future changes to the human papillomavirus and hepatitis B programmes are outlined.
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