(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Hamad Medical Corporation is offering a number of vaccines to be administered to children against many diseases. World Health Organisation's vaccine schedule is followed in the country in accordance with the child's age in administering the vaccines.
Dr Ahmad Hassan al-Hammadi, head of HMC's General Paediatrics Division, said: "Basic vaccines are given at an early age and each of them has a specific time for starting. Each of the vaccines has to be spaced by a defined interval to ensure their effectiveness.
"A total of 12 different vaccines (Bacille Calmette-Guerin € BCG, Hepatitis B, Hexavalent, Pentavalent, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis and Haemophilus Influenza Type b, Rotavirus, Oral Polio, Pneumococcal, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Influenza and Meningococcal) are scheduled for children aged zero to 12 years to protect them against major life threatening diseases of childhood."
According to Dr al-Hammadi, BCG and HBV0 are given at birth. The 6-in-1 vaccine known as Hexavalent, usually is given at two months. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis B, Polio and Haemophilus Influenza Type b disease (Hib).
Pentavalent vaccine, almost the same like Hexavalent, is given at two, four and six months.
MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella (new recommendation - two times at 12 and 18 months). Hepatitis B series vaccine is given at 24 months, 3-4 years, 4-6 years, 11-12 years. Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is given at 12 months and 3-4 years.
Pneumococcal vaccine (given at two, four, six and 15 months) protects against pneumonia (chest infection), ear infections and meningitis (a brain infection).
Rotavirus vaccine (given at two and four months) protects infants against rotavirus, the most common cause of serious diarrhoea in babies and young children.
Meningococcal ACYW135 (given from two years) prevents four strains of the bacteria that cause Meningococcal disease: A, C, Y, and W-135. Influenza vaccine is recommended for children starting from two years.
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