Immunisations

Immunisation is one of the best ways to protect your baby against diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus and meningitis. Your baby needs their first injections at 8 weeks, then 12 weeks, 16 weeks and one year.  Hartlepool health visiting service provides parents and carers with tailored information and support the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your baby’s immunisations.

This is detailed information about your baby’s immunisations created by the NHS as well as a time line of when to get which immunisation.

This is an independent source of information about vaccinations and infectious diseases: https://www.ovg.ox.ac.uk/research/vaccine-knowledge-project

Screening

Screening tests will be offered to your baby in their first few weeks of life.  Most babies will not have the conditions that the screening tests are looking for, but screening is still important for those babies who do have a health problem as spotting the condition early means that management can be put in place to help improve health and prevent severe disability or death. 

All babies are offered a newborn physical examination, a blood spot test when they are around 5 days old and your baby will receive a hearing test soon after birth.