Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 1.3: Support physical care routines for children
Learning outcome: Understand childhood immunisation
Assessment criteria: Explain the reasons why some children are not immunised
Some children may not be immunised because they have certain medical conditions. For example, if a child is receiving treatment for cancer, they may not be able to be vaccinated. Other medical conditions that can contraindicate vaccination include severe allergies and autoimmune disorders.
Some children may also be advised not to be vaccinated or delay vaccination by a medical professional. This is usually because the child has a weakened immune system and vaccinating them could put them at risk.
Finally, some parents may choose not to vaccinate their children because they believe it is unsafe. or that children should develop their immune system naturally. However, the risks associated with not vaccinating are much higher than the risks of vaccinating. Vaccines are extensively tested for safety and efficacy before they are approved for use, and the risks of vaccinating are typically very low. However, it is the parent/carer’s right to decide if their child is immunised and Early Years practitioners must respect their wishes, although they may provide information about the benefits of immunisation.