Fewer needles for baby the answer to a mother's care

Two new combination vaccines are to be added to the national vaccination program on Monday, meaning that children like Isabella O'Brien will remain protected while getting fewer jabs.

Isabella's mother, Freya O'Brien, said she was relieved her daughter would be saved a little pain.

''Less needles, better coverage. Nothing wrong with that. It's a big plus,'' she said.

Father Justin O'Brien said getting a vaccine is always a headache.

''In general, needles and children don't mix very well,'' he said. ''She's generally not very happy during a vaccination. It needs both of us.''

The new MMRV vaccine is given at 18 months and has already been introduced territory-wide. It replaces a chicken-pox shot and the second measles, mumps and rubella booster, which is given at four years.

It arrived too late for Jacqui Powel's four-year-old son Jamal. He received his MMR booster and was not happy at all. ''By the time they're four, they're a lot more aware of what's going on,'' Mrs Powel said.

The second new vaccine, Hib-MenC, will be introduced from this week. Children will get one less shot at 12 months, replacing the separate haemophilus influenzae type B and meningococcal C vaccines.

Deputy director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Kristine Macartney said more combination vaccines will become available. ''It's really nice not to give babies and young children as many jabs in the arm,'' she said.

''We're seeing companies move to combine vaccines where it makes sense and where it is safe.''

Professor Macartney said one of the benefits of the new MRRV vaccine is getting measles immunity from an earlier age.

''We know there are still pockets of that disease around,'' she said. Studies showed ''if we bring forward this protection earlier we'll have a better chance to protect the community against measles outbreaks''.