The Birth of a baby is the most precious gift to a parent. And in this, parents, want to do what is best in them and protect them from harm.
The initial contact with healthcare professional after our babies come into this world, is the recommendation to give them vaccines. We are told that vaccines will protect them from most common ailments that attack children while growing up like; pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis and other serious infections. The United Nations Millennium Development Declaration address among many the Millennium Development Goal No. 4; to reduce Child Mortality. Vaccines play a significant role in this achievement.
Within hours of birth, children will get a shot of the hepatitis B vaccine. At around 2 and Half months of age, children could get as many as five separate shots containing seven vaccines accompanied with Oral Vaccines.
For a parents, all of these shots can seem overwhelming. For many parents, they would ask:
- What are vaccines?
- How do vaccines work?
- What is my child’s risk of getting one of the diseases that vaccines prevent?
- Are vaccines safe for my baby?
This narration, we will describe how vaccines are made and how vaccines work to protect our children from harm. With a better understanding of vaccines and the diseases they prevent.
This will therefore help you see why your doctor/nurse feels so strongly about recommending vaccines to your precious gift.
Vaccines give immunity without making children suffer the high price of natural infection.
What is Immunity?
A condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products.
Vaccination Schedule for Children
| Age | Vaccine | Protection against |
| Birth | · BCG
· Birth Polio · HepB |
· Tuberculosis
· Poliomyelitis · Hepatitis B |
| 6 weeks | · DPT, HepB, HIB,
· OPV, · PCV · Rotavirus |
· Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Poliomyelitis,
· Pneumococcal Pneumonia · Rotavirus |
| 10 weeks | · DPT, HepB, HIB,
· OPV, · PCV · Rotavirus |
· Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Poliomyelitis,
· Pneumococcal Pneumonia · Rotavirus |
| 14 weeks | · DPT, HepB, HIB,
· OPV, · PCV · Rotavirus* |
· Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Poliomyelitis,
· Pneumococcal Pneumonia · Rotavirus |
| 6 months | · FLU
· Vitamin A** |
· Influenza |
| 7 months | · FLU*** | · Influenza |
| 9 months | · Measles
· Yellow Fever |
· Measles
· Yellow Fever |
| 10 months | · Meningitis | · Meningitis |
| 1 year | · Varicella
· Hepatitis A · Cholera |
· Chicken Pox
· Hepatitis A · Cholera |
| 15 – 18 months | · MMR | · Measles, Mumps, Rubella |
| 2 years | · Typhoid | · Typhoid Fever |
* Rotavirus 3rd dose alternate schedule
** Vitamin A is given after every 6 months up to 5 years and lactating months too.
*** One Dose Annually
For more information or to book your appointment, Call 0714 714 275/ 020 720 6000 or call your preferred clinic below.
Email: specialist@gerties.org info@gerties.org
| CLINIC | TELEPHONE NO. | |
| 1 | Muthaiga Clinic | 0207206000 |
| 0730645000 | ||
| 0709529000 | ||
| 2 | Ruaka Clinic | 0207206014 |
| 0730645014 | ||
| 0709529014 | ||
| 3 | TRM Clinic | 0207206013 |
| 0730645013 | ||
| 0709529013 | ||
| 4 | Thika Clinic | 0207206010 |
| 0730645010 | ||
| 0709529010 | ||
| 5 | Komarock Clinic | 0207206007 |
| 0730645007 | ||
| 0709529007 | ||
| 6 | Buruburu Clinic | 0207206012 |
| 0730645012 | ||
| 0709529012 | ||
| 7 | Donholm Clinic | 0207206003 |
| 0730645003 | ||
| 0709529003 | ||
| 8 | Embakasi Clinic | 0207206006 |
| 0730645006 | ||
| 0709529006 | ||
| 9 | Syokimau Clinic | 0207206016 |
| 0730645016 | ||
| 0709529016 | ||
| 10 | Kitengela Clinic | 0207206008 |
| 0730645008 | ||
| 0709529008 | ||
| 11 | Mombasa Clinic | 0207206011 |
| 0730645011 | ||
| 0709529011 | ||
| 12 | Rongai Clinic | 0207206009 |
| 0730645009 | ||
| 0709529009 | ||
| 13 | Nairobi West Clinic | 0207206004 |
| 0730645004 | ||
| 0709529004 | ||
| 14 | Junction Clinic | 0207206015 |
| 0730645015 | ||
| 0709529015 | ||
| 15 | Lavington Clinic | 0207206002 |
| 0730645002 | ||
| 0709529002 | ||
| 16 | Pangani Clinic | 0207206005 |
| 0730645005 | ||
| 0709529005 |