Nathanael received his first vaccination in the UK yesterday. He was given three jabs, all within a few seconds of each other. It was probably more painful for us than it was for him (those of you who are parents will know what I'm talking about).

The immunisation schedule in the UK is slightly different to that in Malaysia. The first jab was his third DTP - 'Triple Antigen' (Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, polio) and Hib vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae type b), which is also given in Malaysia. But their normal schedule also includes vaccinations for immunisation against meningitis-C as well as pneumococcal, which is not given in Malaysia. So Nathanael has to catch up. He will have to return for another course of meningitis-C and pneumoccocal vaccinations in 4 weeks' time.

Hepatitis B jabs on the other hand are not normally given. Nathanael has already had his first two, and in order for him to get his third, we will have to get a prescription from our GP, purchase the vaccine from a pharmacy, and take it with us to the surgery to be administered by a nurse. This will be 4 weeks after he has been given his second course of meningitis-C and pneumococcal vaccinations.

Also, in the UK, jabs are administered on the arm or thigh, rather than the buttocks (for babies anyway).