Vaccines are made from parts of bacteria or viruses that cause infections; when people are vaccinated they will make their own immunity to the specific diseases.

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Vaccinations and Spina Bifida
and Hydrocephalus
Vaccines are made from parts made to ensure that all children are
of bacteria or viruses that cause immunized, even if they are older
infections; when people are than the recommended age range;
vaccinated they will make their own no opportunity to immunize should
immunity to the specific diseases. be missed.”
Modern vaccines are very safe Pertussis immunisation –
and will not cause the infections whooping cough
they are designed to prevent.
Vaccination is considered to be Pertussis or whooping cough is
safe for children with spina bifida a serious infection that can last
and hydrocephalus, indeed far safer for months and lead to significant
than the consequences of acquiring complications. Modern pertussis
any of the serious diseases. In vaccines have a very good safety
many cases vaccination will not record, and have succeeded in
only protect those vaccinated but bringing down the number of
also help to prevent the disease in cases of whooping cough from
other contacts at home or school. over 120,000 a year to just over
In each case there are some people 1000. The vaccine is now available
who should not receive a certain only as part of a combined vaccine
vaccine, or who should seek against diphtheria and tetanus and
medical advice if in doubt. pertussis (DTaP) or one containing
polio and Haemophilus vaccine in
The official Department of Health addition.
advice is: “Every effort should be

2. Vaccinations and Spina Bifida
and Hydrocephalus
a contraindication to immunization.
The Department of Health When there is a personal or family
Immunisation Handbook (2006) history of febrile seizures [that is fits
states: when you get a fever] there is an
increased risk of these occurring
”The presence of a neurological after any fever, including that
condition is NOT a contraindication following immunization. When a child
to immunization. If a child has a has had a febrile seizure in the past,
stable pre – existing neurological with no evidence of neurological
abnormality, such as spina bifida, deterioration, immunisation should
congenital abnormality of the brain go ahead.”
etc, they should be immunized
according to the recommended This means that a history of fits is
schedule. When there has been not a reason to avoid vaccination.
a documented history of cerebral Advice on post – vaccination fevers
damage in the neonatal period, should be obtained.
immunization should be carried
out unless there is evidence of an If parents are concerned about a
evolving neurological abnormality.” child being immunised, they should
consult their doctor.
This means that children with
hydrocephalus or spina bifida should MMR II vaccination –
have the vaccine. The only exceptions measles, mumps, rubella
are when there is a neurological
condition that is unstable and still Childhood diseases such as
developing, and where the cause measles, mumps and rubella
remains unknown. In this case (German measles) are often thought
vaccination can be deferred until of as trivial, but they can give rise
later, but this period during which the to serious complications. Measles
child is unprotected should be kept is a cause of ear infection and can
to a minimum. cause pneumonia. Mumps causes
painful swelling of the saliva glands
With regard to children with a history in the mouth, but it is also a cause
of epilepsy, the Handbook states: “A of meningitis and deafness. In older
family history of seizures [fits] is NOT boys it can cause inflammation

3. of the testicles. Rubella is a (that is an extreme emergency, not
relatively mild disease with only just a rash) following a previous
rare complications, but if it is dose of the same vaccine or to
caught in pregnancy (usually from some vaccine components such
unvaccinated children) it can result as streptomycin or polymyxin
in miscarriage or the birth of a baby (uncommon antibiotics).
with serious abnormalities of the
heart, eye and other organs. b) The presence of malignant
disease or an immunosuppressive
The introduction of the updated illness such as HIV, or treatment
MMR II vaccine in September with immune suppressive drugs.
1996 was intended to continue the
process of elimination of measles, c) MMR is contraindicated in
mumps and rubella (Population pregnancy.
Association for Spina Bifida and
Hydrocephalus 42 Park Road, d) The administration of MMR
Peterborough PE1 2UQ Registered vaccine (or one of its three
charity no.249338 To see our full component vaccines) by injection
range of information sheets and to within the past four weeks. MMR
find out how to donate to Shine is the only one of the “childhood
please visit www.shinecharity.org. diseases” vaccines in this category.
uk) from the population. Following
this, rubella in pregnancy has been e) Illness with a high temperature.
almost eliminated. Until 1999, The vaccine should be given later,
when vaccination rates fell again, when the child has recovered.
the number of mumps cases also
fell dramatically. Similarly, cases There may be a raised temperature
of measles have also fallen, with or a rash showing about a week
virtual elimination of the most to 10 days after receiving the
serious complications. vaccine, but this can be controlled
with paracetamol. A history of
The reasons for NOT receiving convulsions is not a contra-
the vaccine are: indication to this vaccine. Measles
vaccination can cause febrile
a) A confirmed anaphylactic reaction convulsion (not the same as

4. Vaccinations and Spina Bifida
and Hydrocephalus
epileptic convulsions). If your child bacterial meningitis in UK. These
has a history of febrile convulsions are Haemophilus influenzae type
your doctor may recommend giving b (Hib), Meningococcus C (Men C)
paracetamol for 72 hours following and Pneumococcus. In addition
vaccination to prevent his/her to protection from meningitis they
temperature from rising. often prevent other complications of
infection. Bacterial meningitis is itself
Allergy to eggs is not a a potential cause of hydrocephalus.
contraindication to MMR vaccine
and children who have shown egg Haemophilus (Hib): Haemophilus is
allergy in the past should receive the a bacterium that lives in the nose
vaccine. If in doubt parents should and throat. Unfortunately it can
consult their GP or paediatrician. cause serious infections including
Hydrocephalus is not a reason for pneumonia and meningitis. From
withholding the vaccine. October 1992, immunisation against
Haemophilus influenzae type b
MMR Vaccine and Autism: meningitis (Hib) became routine for
The issue of whether there is a all babies in the UK.
link between MMR and autism or
inflammatory bowel disease has Hib is the commonest cause of
been extensively investigated in bacterial meningitis in children under
several countries. NO SUCH LINK four years. It is important that babies
HAS BEEN FOUND, and evidence and children who have spina bifida
now shows that the original report and/or hydrocephalus should be
from a single source was not vaccinated against Hib.
correct. (See Department of Health
website: www.mmrthefacts.nhs. Since routine Hib immunization
uk) For more information, parents began, there has been a 95% fall in
are advised to consult their family infection in children most at risk.
doctor.
Reasons for NOT receiving the
Vaccines against meningitis vaccine are:
There are now three vaccines A confirmed anaphylactic reaction
against the commonest forms of (that is an extreme emergency, not

5. just a rash) following a previous is an extremely rare event. A minor
dose of the same vaccine or to reaction to the first dose such as
some vaccine components. This rash or transient fever should not
is an extremely rare event. A minor deter further administration.
reaction to the first dose such as
rash or transient fever should not Pneumococcus: like Haemophilus
deter further administration. and Meningococcus,
Pneumococcus is a bacterium
Meningococcus C (MenC): that lives in the nose and throat.
Meningococcus is a bacterium Unfortunately it can cause
that lives in the nose and throat. serious infections, particularly ear
Unfortunately it can cause serious infections, pneumonia, septicaemia
infections, particularly septicaemia (blood infection) and meningitis.
(blood infection) and meningitis.
Two types (B and C) cause infection From 2002, pneumococcus
in UK, but at the moment a vaccine vaccine has been available but
is available only against Group C. immunisation with the new, more
effective polyvalent (effective
From 1999, Men C immunisation against more than one strain of
became routine for all babies in the pneumococcus) type became
UK, following which the number of routine for all babies in the UK in
cases fell by over 90%. 2006.
It is important that babies and It is important that babies and
children who have spina bifida children who have spina bifida
and/or hydrocephalus should be and/or hydrocephalus should be
vaccinated against Meningococcus vaccinated against Pneumococcus.
C.
Reasons for NOT receiving the
Reasons for NOT receiving the vaccine are:
vaccine are:
A confirmed anaphylactic reaction
A confirmed anaphylactic reaction (that is an extreme emergency, not
(that is an extreme emergency, not just a rash) following a previous
just a rash) following a previous dose of the same vaccine or to
dose of the same vaccine or to some vaccine components. This
some vaccine components. This is an extremely rare event. A minor

6. reaction to the first dose such as possible to have all the protection
rash or transient fever should not with fewer injections. Vaccination
deter further administration. should begin at 2 months of age,
with repeat doses at intervals. Your
Contrary to previous advice, people GP or paediatrician will be able to
with shunts are NOT at any more risk tell you which combination vaccines
from pneumococcus than people are available and when to have your
without shunts, and adults who have child vaccinated.
(or are about to have) shunts should
not be more concerned about risk Vaccines for Travellers
of pneumococcal disease. However,
Department of Health policy is that People with Spina Bifida and
all children and all those over 65yrs Hydrocephalus travelling to
of age should be immunized. countries where vaccines are
recommended (e.g. yellow fever,
Vaccination schedules for children: typhoid etc) should receive exactly
Most of the major childhood disease the same vaccinations as any other
can now be covered by the UK
immunization programme. Some traveller.
of these are dealt with here, but
others including polio, diphtheria For further information on travel
and tetanus are also very important. health please refer to:
These have all now been put together www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or
into combined vaccines, so it is www.nathnac.org/travel
Help us
Shine relies on people’s generosity and support so we can help our clients
who depend on us for help and advice - people with hydrocephalus,
spina bifida, their families and carers. To donate to Shine please visit
www.shinecharity.org.uk or call 01733 421329.
This information has been produced by Shine’s medical advisers and
approved by Shine’s Medical Advisory Committee of senior medical
professionals.
Shine - Registered charity no.249338
To see our full range of information sheets and to find out how to donate
to Shine please visit www.shinecharity.org.uk