ADVERSE EVENTS

Very rarely (in less than one in ten thousand children) some children may be unresponsive after vaccination or can have a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine. Your child may be asked to stay in the surgery or vaccination area for a short time after vaccination to check that he/she does not have an immediate allergic reaction.

Also tell the doctor or nurse immediately if your child develops a rash, or swelling of the face and neck. These side effects occur in less than one in a hundred but more than one in a thousand children.

The most common side effects (in at least one in a hundred and often one in ten children) are problems at the injection site, such as redness, pain and mild swelling. These side effects may occur in the first 48 hours after vaccination but should not normally be a cause for concern. Injection site problems are more common with booster doses than with the first three doses in infants.

Other side effects include:

• In more than one in ten children: fever, unusual crying, loss of appetite and restlessness. After booster doses, sleepiness and nervousness.
• In less than one in ten but more than one in a hundred children: feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, nervousness.
• In less than one in a hundred but more than one in a thousand children: increased sweating, purple blotches or pin points under the skin, moodiness, sleeplessness, tiredness, unsteadiness, lumps at the injection site. After booster doses, infections in the ear, nose and throat.

Some children may be unresponsive after vaccination or can have a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine. Your child may be asked to stay in the surgery or vaccination area for a short time after vaccination to check that he/she does not have an immediate allergic reaction.

Also tell the doctor or nurse immediately if your child develops a rash, or swelling of the face and neck. These side effects occur in less than one in a hundred but more than one in a thousand children.