Occasionally, local reactions to vaccines can occur. These are usually quite mild and easily treated. We have identified some ways that you can help to manage these. In rare cases, a more severe reaction may occur. If at any point you are at all concerned about your child’s reaction to a vaccination, or their general health, contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately.
| Local Reactions | Management |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis B – Tender at the site of injection, mild fever, nausea, muscle or joint pain | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| DTPa – Mild fever: redness, soreness and swelling at the site of the injection | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| Hib – Swelling, redness and pain at the site of injection, mild fever | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| Polio (OPV) – Headache, muscle pains, mild diarrhoea | Paracetamol (if required), increase fluids |
| MMR – Reaction occurs 7-12 days after immunisation. Generally unwell, low grade fever, mild rash, swollen glands. | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| Meningococcal C – Pain, redness and swelling at injection site, fever, irritability, lack of appetite and headaches | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| Varicella – Localised pain, redness or swelling; fever, mild rash 10-21 days after vaccine | Paracetamol (if a delayed reaction occurs) cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| IPV – Fever, crying, loss of appetite; pain, redness and swelling at injection site | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
| Pneumococcal – Localised pain, redness or swelling; low grade fever, sleepy or irritable | Paracetamol (if required), cool, wet cloth applied to injection site, increase fluids |
