They have been described as one of the most vital breakthroughs in medical history, but it can be hard to keep track of or understand what vaccinations are needed.
Speaking in the Senedd recently, Health Minister Mark Drakeford outlined the impact of vaccinations on public health and spoke about the lessons learned from the measles epidemic in Swansea.
He said: “After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and protecting people against disease.
“I am sure we all agree that learning from the outbreak is an important process so that we can be confident that the public continues to be offered the best protection available against infectious diseases.”
Here are just a few of the jabs that would be worthwhile ensuring that you and your children have had:
The flu vaccine is free for people who are in “at risk” groups. This includes:
* People over 65 and people in long-term care
* People with long-term respiratory disease such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis
* People with long-term heart, renal or liver disease and people with neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease
* People with diabetes
* People who have a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
* Health professionals and paid or unpaid carers of people with the above health conditions and pregnant women
* Members of recognised voluntary organisations who provide planned emergency first aid at public events.
* Those children up to nine years old who are in groups considered “at risk” of developing complications from contracting flu, will require a second dose of flu vaccine from their GP (unless they have already had the vaccine in previous years). At the end of last year, Health Protection Agency officials said the rise in the levels of the virus meant they were at the stage where they would issue antiviral medication in some cases.
The Welsh Government’s target is for 75% of people in the at-risk groups to take up the flu vaccine. However, recent statistics have shown that these targets have not been achieved so far.
Dr Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, said: “Flu spreads easily, and can cause serious illness which would need to be treated in hospital. People with the above conditions are at greater risk of having a serious illness if they had flu. That’s why we encourage people in these groups to get the vaccine.
“If you are eligible for the vaccine, talk to your GP surgery, local health clinic or you can talk to NHS Direct Wales.
“Many people think that flu is just a bad cold, but in fact it is much worse and can lead to other severe health complications. People know that the vaccine is available for the over-65s, but many people living with other health conditions aren’t always aware that they can get vaccinated as well. It is really important that people who are in at-risk groups do get vaccinated.”
Last year, for the first time, selected community pharmacies also provided the vaccine. People should check with NHS Direct Wales or pharmacy before travelling to find out if their local pharmacy can provide them with the vaccine.
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
The first MMR vaccination should be given when your child is around 13-months-old. A booster is given before your child starts school. A simple and safe jab from your GP will protect your child’s health, could save their life, and will help protect other children too.
If any family members are pregnant, receiving chemotherapy, or aged under one, it is vital to ensure that all other family members are up to date with their MMR vaccination. Both MMR vaccinations are needed to be fully protected against the diseases.
It is estimated that more than 30,000 children are still not fully protected.
The recent measles outbreak, which centred on the Swansea area, demonstrated the consequences of poor vaccination rates.
The outbreak, which was officially declared over by public health officials last month, resulted in 1,219 notifications of measles and 88 people hospitalised.
It also saw the death of Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, of Port Tennant, Swansea, who died in April from giant cell pneumonia due to measles.
The MMR jab is recommended by the World Health Organisation, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles.
It is believed that many children may not have been vaccinated following the publication of Dr Andrew Wakefield’s now discredited research in 1998, which linked the MMR jab with autism. The vaccine scare has now been proved to have been based on unfounded claims.
The meningitis C vaccine protects against infection by meningococcal group C bacteria, which can cause two very serious illnesses, meningitis and septicaemia.
The vaccine does not protect against meningitis caused by other bacteria or by viruses such as meningococcal group B.
Children are routinely offered the vaccine as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme at three months, 12 months and 13 to 15 years old.
Anyone under the age of 25 who hasn’t yet received the vaccination can have a single catch-up dose on the NHS.
A vaccine against meningitis B has been developed but earlier this year the body that advises governments on immunisation said it should not be introduced in the UK.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said the vaccine, Bexsero, was not cost-effective and should not yet be adopted by the NHS.
Babies are now being offered an oral vaccine to protect them against rotavirus, a common cause of sickness and diarrhoea in under-fives.
The vaccine, delivered via a small amount of sweet liquid from a dropper, will be offered to babies during their routine vaccination sessions at two months and three-months-old.
Rotavirus is a highly infectious virus which causes gastroenteritis, resulting in diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, usually lasting three to eight days.
Nearly all children will experience at least one rotavirus infection by the age of five, many more than once. Gastroenteritis can cause dehydration which can be very serious, especially in infants, who may need to go into hospital.
It is estimated that about one in five children in Wales need medical attention before their fifth birthday because of rotavirus and one in 10 of those are admitted to hospital.
Now, however, the oral vaccine is expected to prevent eight out of 10 babies from getting rotavirus.
Babies born on or after May 6, 2013, will be eligible for the vaccine; but the first dose will not be given to babies older than 14 weeks and six days and no vaccine will be given to infants older than 23 weeks and six days.
June Wheel, immunisation coordinator at ABMU health board, said: “This is a national immunisation programme which we are delighted is being introduced. Nearly all children get rotavirus, which is most prevalent between the ages of six and 18 months, and during the winter between January and March.
“At this time of year our children’s wards can be quite busy with children admitted with gastroenteritis as a result of this common bug.
“However, this vaccine, which is not an injection but a small drop of sweetened solution, will help protect many babies from this very unpleasant illness.”