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Routine vaccinations help protect children and adults against infectious diseases that can cause serious illness, long-term complications, hospitalisation or death. Vaccines work by preparing the immune system to recognise and respond to specific infections before a person is exposed to them. Hout Bay Family Medical Centre provides routine vaccinations as part of its child-health, preventative-care and family-medicine services. Our doctors and nursing team can review your vaccination history, identify missed or outstanding doses and advise which vaccines may be appropriate according to your age, medical history, lifestyle and individual risk factors. Routine and travel vaccinations are listed among the services available at our GP practice in Hout Bay, Cape Town.
Routine vaccinations are vaccines recommended at particular ages or stages of life to provide protection against preventable infectious diseases.
Some vaccines are administered during infancy and childhood as part of the South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Others may be recommended during adolescence, pregnancy, adulthood or later life. Additional vaccinations may be advised because of a chronic medical condition, occupation, previous injury, travel plans or another recognised risk factor.
The exact vaccines required will depend on:
Vaccination recommendations and schedules may change. Your doctor will use the current national guidance and your individual medical history when advising you.
Routine childhood immunisation begins shortly after birth and continues through infancy, early childhood and the school years.
The South African childhood immunisation programme includes age-appropriate protection against diseases such as:
The timing and number of doses vary according to the vaccine. Some require a series of doses to build protection, while others require booster doses as the child grows. The current Western Cape schedule follows South Africa’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
Parents and caregivers should bring the child’s Road to Health Booklet or other vaccination record to every immunisation appointment. This helps the healthcare professional confirm which vaccines have already been administered and whether any doses are outstanding.
Vaccination schedules are designed to provide protection at the ages when children may be particularly vulnerable to specific infections.
A single vaccine dose does not always provide complete or lasting protection. Several childhood vaccines require multiple doses or later boosters to develop and maintain an effective immune response.
Keeping vaccinations up to date helps:
Vaccination coverage is especially important for highly contagious infections such as measles. Western Cape health authorities continue to encourage caregivers to ensure that children receive all routine doses and any recommended catch-up vaccinations.
A child or adult who has missed a scheduled vaccination may still be able to receive it later. Catch-up vaccination involves administering doses that are overdue according to the applicable national schedule.
Missing an appointment does not necessarily mean that the entire vaccine series must be restarted. The doctor or nurse will review the person’s available records and determine which doses are still required.
Catch-up vaccination may be needed when:
Bring all available vaccination records to the appointment. Where records cannot be located, the doctor will advise on the safest and most appropriate next steps.
Vaccination does not end in childhood. Adults may require booster doses, seasonal vaccines or additional protection according to their age, health and exposure risks.
Depending on the individual assessment, a doctor may discuss vaccinations relating to:
Not every adult requires every vaccine. Recommendations are based on the patient’s age, previous doses, medical conditions and recognised risk factors.
Adults who are unsure of their vaccination status can arrange a preventative-health consultation to review their records and discuss whether any routine or catch-up vaccines should be considered.
Influenza vaccination may be recommended each year, particularly for people at increased risk of serious complications.
South African guidance identifies groups such as pregnant women, healthcare workers, adults over 65 and people with certain chronic cardiovascular, respiratory or immune-related conditions as important groups for seasonal influenza vaccination.
The influenza vaccine is updated to provide protection against influenza strains expected to circulate during the season. Because protection and circulating strains change over time, vaccination may be recommended annually rather than as a once-off treatment.
The influenza vaccine does not protect against every cold, cough or respiratory infection. It is intended to reduce the risk and potential severity of influenza caused by the strains included in that season’s vaccine.
Tetanus is caused by bacteria that can enter the body through a wound. Protection is provided through tetanus-containing vaccines given during childhood and through later booster or injury-related vaccination when appropriate.
A doctor may review your tetanus vaccination status after:
The need for vaccination depends on the wound and when the last tetanus-containing dose was administered. A serious wound should be assessed promptly rather than waiting for a routine vaccination appointment.
Certain vaccinations may be recommended during pregnancy to protect the mother and help provide early protection to the baby.
The current South African routine schedule includes a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis-containing vaccine during each pregnancy at the recommended stage. Seasonal influenza vaccination may also be advised for pregnant women.
Other vaccines may be unsuitable during pregnancy or require individual consideration. Tell the doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding or think you may be pregnant before receiving any vaccination.
Your doctor will advise which vaccines are recommended, which should be delayed and whether additional protection is appropriate because of travel, occupation or another medical risk.
People with certain chronic health conditions may have an increased risk of severe illness or complications from vaccine-preventable infections.
Additional or more regular vaccination may be considered for people with:
Some vaccines may be particularly important for these patients, while live vaccines may not be suitable for people with certain immune-system conditions.
The vaccination plan should therefore be discussed with a doctor who understands the patient’s medical history and treatment.
Before administering a vaccine, the doctor or nurse may confirm:
Please bring:
Tell the healthcare professional if you have recently received another vaccination or are scheduled for surgery or medical treatment.
The vaccine may be administered by injection or, for selected childhood vaccines, by mouth. The method and injection site depend on the vaccine and the patient’s age.
For an injectable vaccine, the skin may be cleaned before the vaccine is administered into the recommended part of the arm or leg. The injection itself usually takes only a few seconds.
Young children may become upset before or during the procedure. Holding and comforting the child securely can help the healthcare professional administer the vaccine safely.
After the vaccination, you may be asked to remain at the practice briefly for observation, particularly if there is a relevant allergy or previous reaction history.
The healthcare professional will record the vaccine, date and dose and explain whether another dose or booster is required.
Vaccines are assessed for safety and effectiveness before they are approved for use. Safety monitoring continues after introduction so that unusual or unexpected adverse events can be investigated.
Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary. The risk associated with a vaccine must be considered alongside the potentially serious consequences of the infection it is intended to prevent.
Your doctor can discuss the known benefits and risks of the particular vaccine being recommended.
Possible short-term effects may include:
The type and frequency of side effects differ between vaccines. Most mild reactions resolve within a few days.
Follow the aftercare advice given by the healthcare professional. Contact the practice when symptoms are severe, unusual, worsening or lasting longer than expected.
Serious allergic reactions after vaccination are rare, but they require immediate treatment.
Tell the doctor or nurse before vaccination if you have:
Seek emergency assistance if you develop:
Vaccination may sometimes need to be postponed when a person is significantly unwell or has a fever. A minor illness without significant systemic symptoms is not always a reason to delay a routine childhood vaccination.
The decision depends on:
Do not cancel an appointment solely because of a mild cold without first checking with the practice. The doctor or nurse can advise whether vaccination should proceed.
An accurate vaccination record helps prevent missed or unnecessary doses.
After vaccination, check that the following information has been recorded:
Keep the record in a safe place and bring it to future appointments, schools, medical consultations and travel-health assessments.
Parents should keep the Road to Health Booklet available throughout childhood, even after the baby and toddler vaccination series has been completed.
Hout Bay Family Medical Centre provides routine vaccinations, childhood immunisations, vaccination reviews and preventative healthcare for individuals and families in Hout Bay and surrounding Cape Town communities.
Our experienced doctors and nursing team can:
Patients looking for routine vaccinations in Hout Bay, childhood immunisations, adult vaccines or a trusted family doctor in Cape Town can contact Hout Bay Family Medical Centre to arrange an appointment.
The practice is conveniently located at 19 Brighton Street, on the corner of Brighton Street and Albert Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town.
Because vaccine stock and availability can change, patients should contact the practice before attending to confirm that the required vaccine is available.
Seek emergency medical assistance after vaccination if the patient develops:
For non-urgent concerns such as persistent redness, swelling, fever or discomfort, contact Hout Bay Family Medical Centre for medical advice.
