Vax for four year olds - esp after info on spacing it out

[Gigi]

thank you both so much for your words and links, i really appreciate it. Off to do more reading!

i think, if i can't work it out, maybe i'll copy your idea MEOW, and get the two needles done one at a time, with a month space inbetween.

I'm presuming the timing of the vax is to get the kids done BEFORE they start school. My DD is 4 in late 2010, will be starting school in Feb 2012, so that gives me plenty of time (should i need more than one month between vax).

so at four, the schedule is:
4 years

• Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (acellular pertussis) (DTPa)
• Measles, mumps and German measles (rubella) (MMR)
• Polio (inactivated poliomyelitis) (IPV)

the gov site refers to TWO injections, although THREE injections are inferred (unless the polio one is the pink stuff on the spoon that you swallow, like i had as an adult).

[LimeSlice]

The Polio vax is, as far as I am aware, still the oral (horrid pink stuff on the spoon lol)

[Little Chicken]

I think the polio is now actually part of the DTPa. I don't think they use the oral version at all anymore. But you can get it as a seperate injection.

[LimeSlice]

Stand corrected

Thanks MIA...do you know when they changed it?

Can you update the other thread please? Some is asking about getting it separately...

[Little Chicken]

What thread is that one? This is from the immunisation handbook I linked above.

(iii) Interchangeability of OPV and IPV: Oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV) is no longer in use in Australia. OPV and IPV are interchangeable. Children commenced on OPV should complete their polio vaccination schedule using IPV (IPOL) or IPV-containing vaccines.

From this page:

Immunise - 3.16 Poliomyelitis

It does say there is a seperate vaccine available, but it doesn't say if it is suitable for children less then eight years of age.