n your child's first hour of life he may be given an injection of Vitamin K, and the needles won't stop there.

We look at the immunisations your child will face from two months old right up to secondary school, and we check out the jabs you and your child may need before going on holiday.

Two, three and four months old

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Babies are given the same set of injections three times, each set a month apart, starting at two months old.

They will be given an injection of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough), Hib (against bacterial meningitis) and a polio drop. In recent years, meningitis C has been added to the two, three and four month appointments.

Parents have to be particularly careful to wash their hands after changing nappies in the few weeks after the polio booster is given, in order to reduce the risk of catching it as the virus that causes the disease could be active in the nappy.

However, advice on swimming with your child after the vaccine has been given has recently changed. It is now considered safe to take your child swimming any time after they are born rather than waiting until the early vaccinations have been given.

13 to 15 months

This is when children are due for the MMR, measles, mumps and rubella, given as one injection. Many parents consult with their GP to find out if they can have the vaccinations separately but this usually has to be done privately unless there is a good reason, such as severe egg allergy (the vaccine is cultured in egg).

Three to five years

Children are given pre-school boosters shortly before they start school, to increase the chances of the majority of children in a class being protected.

The preschool injections consist of a booster dose of DTP, a booster dose of polio and an MMR injection. If your child did not have the MMR at the age of one, they will be given a dose now and another three months later.

10 to 14 years

At this age, children will be given their BCG, usually in the first year of secondary school but not always. This protects against tuberculosis.

13 to 18 years

At this age children receive one injection of diptheria and tetanus and another polio dose by mouth.

Other childhood immunisations

The BCG vaccine is given to babies from the following high-risk groups shortly after they are born:

• Babies with one or both parents who come from countries with a high rate of TB (for example, India and countries in Africa and the Far East).

• Babies who will be staying for more than a month in a country with a high rate of TB.

• Babies who could be in close contact with someone who has TB or has had TB in the past.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is given to babies whose mothers or close family have been infected with hepatitis B.

The first dose is given within two days of birth and a second dose is given at one month old. A third dose is given at two months old and a booster dose and blood test are given at 12 months old.

Immunisations for travel

Children need protection when travelling to far-flung countries too and your doctor will be best able to advise on the course of treatment your child may need.

Children won't necesarily be given the same medication as adults, there are some malarial drugs which are more suitable for children than others for example, so professional advice is advisable.

Before making an appointment with your doctor, check out our the vaccination planner on our sister site This Is Travel to help you work out what is necessary for the countries you plan to visit. Click on the link in the blue box, above.

Don't forget if you are travelling to Italy this year that there has been an outbreak of measles in the country among children, and it is recommended that your child have a measles injection before travelling there if they have not yet had the MMR. If your child is below the age the MMR is normally given, consult your GP for advice.