The Department of Health website, from which can be accessed the ‘Green Book’, other publications and useful links. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthprotection/Immunisation/index.htm

Jefferson N, Sleight G, MacFarlane A. Immunization of children by a nurse without a doctor present. BMJ. 1987; 294: 423–4. A very useful article showing that a suitably trained nurse can carry out immunisation without a doctor being on the premises.

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Manual of Childhood Infections. London: WB Saunders; 2001. A concise guide to childhood infections. It includes details of diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases in children.

Booy R, Sengupta N, Bedford H, et al. Measles, mumps, and rubella: prevention. Clin Evid. 2006; 15: 448–68. A review.

Bedford H, Elliman D. Concerns about immunisation. BMJ. 2000; 320: 240–3. www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/320/7229/240 A review of how to talk to worried parents.

Elliman DA, Bedford HE. MMR: Where are we now? Arch Dis Child. 2007; 92: 1055–7. A review of the current evidence in relation to the MMR vaccine.

Muscat M, Bang H, Wohlfahrt J et al. Measles in Europe: an epidemiological assessment. Lancet, Early Online Publication, 7 January 2009. Reviews rise in measles infections across Europe.

Great Ormond Street Hospital/Institute of Child Health www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/immunisation/ An independent website for parents and professionals.

Health Protection Agency. Immunisation website. www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/vaccination/vacc_menu.htm

Health Protection Agency. Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status.

www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/vaccination/algorithm_2006_Septl.pdf

Offit PA, Quarles J, Gerber MA, et al. Addressing parents’ concerns: do multiple vaccines overwhelm or weaken the infant’s immune system? Pediatrics. 2002; 109(1): 124–9. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/109/1/124 A review.

Offit PA, Hackett CJ. Addressing parents’ concerns: do vaccines cause allergic or autoimmune diseases? Pediatrics. 2003; 111(3): 653–9. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/111/3/653 A review.

Offit PA, Jew RK. Addressing parents’ concerns: do vaccines contain harmful preservatives, adjuvants, additives, or residuals? Pediatrics. 2003; 112(6 Pt 1):1394–7

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/112/6/1394 A review.

1. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthprotection/Immunisation/Greenbook/dh_4097254 See also http://80.168.38.66/article.php?id=401

2. www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk

3. www.resus.org.uk/siteindx.htm

4. http://www.portal.nelm.nhs.uk/PGD/default.aspx

5. Papenburg J, Blais D, Moore D et al. Pediatric injuries from needles discarded in the community: epidemiology and risk of seroconversion. .Pediatrics. 2008;122(2):e487-92.

6. Advice on visits to farms and zoos: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais23.pdf

7. www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk/PDF/Guidance_on_infection_control_web_poster_April_2006.pdf

8. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Feverish Illness in Young Children: NICE Guideline 47. London: NIHCE; 2007. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG47

9. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006; 367(9508): 397–403. See also Wells LC, Smith JC, Weston VC, et al. The child with a non-blanching rash: how likely is meningococcal disease? Arch Dis Child. 2001; 85(3): 218–22. See also Downes AJ, Crossland DS, Mellon AF. Prevalence and distribution of petechiae in well babies. Arch Dis Child. 2002; 86(4): 291–2

10. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Urinary Tract Infection in Children: NICE Guideline 54. London: NIHCE; 2007 www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG54

11. www.phmeg.org.uk/Documents/Headlice/HeadLiceStaffordRpt_2008.pdf See also www.chc.org