All children should be routinely immunised against the following eight important infections:
- Tuberculosis
- Polio (poliomyelitis)
- Diphtheria
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis B
- Measles
- Haemophilus influenzae
In South Africa, children are immunised against these eight infections as part of the State immunisation programme. As a result, many of these infections (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles) have become uncommon. In future, additional immunisations are likely to be added.
Some additional immunisations may be given to specific children when indicated, e.g. viral influenza, polyvalent pneumococcal, meningoccal and yellow fever vaccine.