Vaccinations – free vaccination

Rotavirus oral vaccine (at the age of about 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks) – free vaccination
Rotaviruses cause vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Before the vaccination, 2900-4400 children were hospitalised in Austria every year. The oral vaccination protects >70% against rotavirus infections and >90% against severe rotavirus diarrhoea.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.

“6-fold vaccination” (at the age of about 2 month, 4 months and 12 months) – free vaccination
It contains vaccines against:

• Diphtheria: occurrence in Africa, Asia, South America, Albania, and successor states of the former Soviet Union.
  Infections of nose, throat, larynx, respiratory system, heart, kidney and liver damage.
• Tetanus: worldwide occurrence in road dust, wood and soil.
  Muscle spasms occur, life-threatening is respiratory muscle paralysis.
• Pertussis whooping cough: frequent, infections of the respiratory system with increasing coughing fits up to shortness of breath, severe course in infancy with lung inflammation and respiratory arrest.
• Poliomyelitis – Polio/infantile paralysis: occurrence in Africa and Asia, different courses of disease with or without involvement of the central nervous system; paralysis.
• Haemophilus influenza B: until the introduction of the vaccine the most common cause of meningitis in children up to 5 years of age.
• Hepatitis B: very common worldwide, causes acute hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) which can become chronic, increased risk of liver cancer, WHO recommendation 2005 for a global vaccination and inclusion in the paediatric vaccination programme.

The most common side effects of the vaccine are loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual crying, irritability, agitation, fever, swelling and redness at the injection site, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Pneumococcal vaccine (at the age of about 2 months, 4 months and about 12 months) – free vaccination
Pneumococci colonize the mucosa membrane in the pharynx and can cause severe blood poisoning and meningitis in infants and young children, most commonly at the age of 6-12 months.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are sleepiness, loss of appetite, irritability, pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fever.

Meningococcal B vaccination (from the age of 2 months)
Meningococci occur worldwide. In Austria about 60-100 cases (about 50-70% of group B meningococci and 20-30% of group C meningococci) are registered each year.
The transmission happens through droplet infection; about 10% of all healthy people are populated with meningococci in the nose and throat region. A meninigitis or blood poisoning can occur, the disease can lead to death from full health within a few hours. The most common serious infections occur in children under the age of 1 year; this is why it is recommended that the vaccination should be carried out at the earliest possible date, from the age of 2 months.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, hardening; general symptoms include fever, sleepiness, restlessness, irritability, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints such as loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, skin rash.

Influenza – from 6 months, in the 1st year 2x, then 1x a year
Infections with the influenza virus (A and B) often lead to severe illnesses with high fever, muscle pain, headaches, sore throats and coughs after an incubation period of a few hours to a few days. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea often occurs. The vaccine is recommended to anyone who wants to protect themselves.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, hardening; general symptoms include fever, malaise, chills, sweating, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain.

Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination (at the age of 10 months and 11 months) – free vaccination
It contains vaccines against:

• Measles:highly infectious, rash with fever, complications: middle ear and lung inflammations (20%), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, 1-2/1000 cases); SSPE- special form of encephalitis (1/ 5-10,000 cases, fatal), WHO aim is the eradication, currently every non-vaccinated person will eventually get measles
• Mumps: highly infectious, salivary gland swelling, complications: encephalitis and meningitis (5-10%), deafness, testicular inflammation (10-30%)
• Rubella: highly infectious, rash, complications: malformations of embryos.

The most common side effects of the vaccine are redness, pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, infection of the upper airways, skin rash.

Meningococci C – from 12 months, 1x
Meningococci occur worldwide. In Austria around 60 to 100 cases (about 50-70% of group B meningococci and 20-30% of group C meningococci) are registered each year. Transmission happens through droplet infection; about 10% of all healthy people are populated with meningococci in the nose and throat region. Meningitis or blood poisoning can occur and the disease can lead to death from total health within a few hours.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, bruising and itching; general symptoms include fever, irritability, dizziness, sleepiness, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints such as loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, rash, common colds and coughs.

TBE – from 12 months, 3x (0/1/9-12 months)
TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) is a meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the cerebral membrane or the brain) transmitted predominantly by tick bites, sporadically also by the consumption of non-pasteurised milk and dairy products (from sheep and goats, very rarely also cows).
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection spot such as pain, swelling, redness; general symptoms include fever, sleeplessness, irritability, fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches and joint pain.

Varicella / Chickenpox – from 12 months, 2x (0/6 weeks)
The classic clinical picture of varicella (chickenpox) is an itchy rash with water-clear blisters and fever. Complications include meningitis, lung and liver inflammation and bacterial superinfections, which are more likely to develop in adults. It is recommended to vaccinate twice in the second year of life, the second vaccination should in any case take place before entering community facilities. Since chickenpox is a serious disease in adults and can cause serious complications during pregnancy, it is particularly important to vaccinate children from 9 years of age if they have not been vaccinated or have not had the disease yet.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, and itching; general symptoms include fever, irritability, varicella-like rash (approx. 5 lesions, non-contagious), common colds and coughs.

Hepatitis A – from 12 months, 2x (0/6-12 months)
After general complaints such as nausea, vomiting, fever, tiredness, jaundice occurs. Hepatitis A does not have a chronic course, the disease usually heals completely. The course of the disease is usually mild in children, whereas in adults it becomes more severe; cases of deaths from the age of 40 or in persons with a pre-damaged liver are possible. Next to the protection of the child, the vaccination of children also effects the elimination of the most important source of infection for adults. It is recommended to vaccinate children before entering community facilities, as the virus is introduced and spread after stays abroad.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, hardening; general symptoms include fever, malaise, irritability, drowsiness, headaches, and gastrointestinal complaints such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

6 – 8 years – 4-times vaccination, 1x – free vaccination
It contains vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, bruising and itching; general symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash, joint and muscle pains and joint swelling.

6 – 12 years – Hepatitis B – Refreshment or Primary Immunization (0/1 / 6months) – free vaccination
The highly infectious hepatitis B virus is one of the most common viral infectious agents worldwide. It is transmitted via blood or blood contact. It can cause acute or chronic inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The WHO recommends a global general vaccine and inclusion in the vaccine programme for children in order to eradicate the disease worldwide.
The most common side effects of the vaccines are reactions at the injection site such as pain, redness and hardening.

9 – 11 years – HPV vaccination, 2x (0 / 6 months) – free vaccination
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are spread globally. About 70% of all women and men are infected with genital HPV in the course of their lives. The HPV types 16 and 18 (from which the vaccine protects) cause >70% of cervical cancers. In addition, some cases of cancer of the vagina, the penis and the area of the mouth are caused by HPV. The HPV types 6 and 11 from which the vaccine protects) cause 90% of all genital warts (condylomas). The vaccine is recommended before entering the sexually active age.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, bruising and itching; general symptoms are fever, headaches and nausea.

11 years – 4-fold meningococcal vaccine (A, C, Y, W135), 1x – free vaccination
Meningococci occur worldwide, the groups A, B, C, W-135 and Y have the greatest significance for the occurrence of serious illnesses. In Austria, about 60-100 cases are registered annually (about 50-70% of meningococci of group B and 20-30% of meningococci of group C). Typical high risk areas for meningococci A or W135 are Africa and the Middle East. The transmission happens through droplet infection. A meningitis or blood poisoning can occur and the disease can lead to death from total health within a few hours. Teenagers often get infected when travelling together in groups.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are reactions at the injection site such as pain, swelling, redness, bruising; general symptoms are fever, irritability, fatigue, headaches as well as gastrointestinal complaints such as loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.