Some children may develop a fever after their vaccinations. They should be kept cool, offered cold drinks and given an appropriate antipyretic – a drug used to prevent/reduce fever – such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Parents may also be advised to give paracetamol to prevent fever after the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine, which is usually given at two and four months of age and one year. However paracetamol is not routinely needed at the one year dose.

A total of three doses of 120mg/5ml strength suspension is recommended – 2.5ml as soon as possible after the MenB vaccination and then second and third 2.5ml doses at four to six hour intervals. Parents of babies born prematurely (before 32 weeks) need to check the dose with their GP. Always check packaging for instructions.

Did you know?

More than 60 per cent of parents with children aged between six months and five years say their child has had a fever.