The subject of vaccinations is a tricky one, with everyone having their own opinion on whether or not they wish to vaccinate their children.
However, in recent years it’s become common for employers to require that a nanny or other childcare provider has received their vaccinations. In particular, vaccinations for the flu, measles and whooping cough.
The reason for this is that even healthy people can contract any of these three illnesses, all of which are contagious and all of which can cause severe complications in young children.
The flu, whilst manageable for most adults, can hospitalise young children and in some cases, can even cause death. It’s for this reason, that all childcare workers are encouraged to receive yearly flu vaccinations to protect themselves and others from the virus.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that attacks the respiratory system. It is particularly dangerous to children under one year old, which is why this vaccination is also offered to pregnant women and newborn babies.
Nannies and other child care workers are encouraged to receive the Whooping Cough vaccination a full two-weeks before they come into contact with a child under the age of one, to allow the vaccination to take effect.
The measles vaccine is probably the most important of all, since measles is an extremely dangerous virus that can cause death in children under 5, as well as in unborn babies.
A lot of nannies may already be fully vaccinated, whilst others may not be able to receive vaccinations due to allergies or personal beliefs.
Whatever you decide, it’s important to discuss immunisation with your nanny or nanny agency as soon as possible.
What are your views on vaccinations for nannies? Share your thoughts in the comments below.