Dr Graham Jones

24/04/2026

Do young children need one or two doses of vaccine?
Two doses of vaccine (administered one month apart) are recommended in the first year of vaccination in any child younger than 9 years of age

24/04/2026

From what age should babies / children get the flu vaccine?
The influenza vaccine available in South Africa is the “Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV)” It is recommended for children from 6 months of age.

22/04/2026

Flu season 2026 has come early

The autumn of 2026 is unusual in that the RSV and Influenza season are both occurring at the same time. Usually, influenza peaks in winter and so this could potentially be a severe season.
There is a risk of being infected with both viruses simultaneously, which could lead to a more severe illness.
The Influenza (“flu”) vaccine is the best way to protect against getting sick from the flu.

Vaccination is recommended as soon as possible as it takes at least 2 weeks for protective antibodies to develop. Younger children may require 2 doses before they are fully protected.
https://www.nicd.ac.za/influenza-updates/
https://www.nicd.ac.za/public-urged-to-vaccinate-as-flu-season-starts-earlier-than-usual/

Sources: NICD and Rajeev Maharaj

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Zy1QaVcCx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CVuCujx6r/?mibextid=wwXIfr

17/04/2026

Seasonal Influenza vaccination is recommended for:
💉 Those at high risk for severe Influenza illness, including:
•Children ≥6 months - ≤ 5 years
•Pregnant individuals
•Elderly ≥ 60 years
•Those with chronic illnesses
💡 It should also be considered for anyone at risk of being infected and who wishes to stay protected, especially:
•Healthcare workers
•Childcare workers
•Child and Adult Family members of high-risk individuals
Stay healthy this flu season!
Call us today to schedule your families’ vaccination with our experienced nurses, Sr Jenny and Sr Adrienne! Tel: 010 346 5811

05/04/2026

02/04/2026

Such a cutie 🥰 SPOT Care - Specialist Paediatrics & Outpatient Therapy

Meet “SPOT” … watch out for him as he will pop up on this page from time to time to tell you more about what’s happening Care!

31/03/2026

Ask Your Paediatrician: RSV?
•RSV is a common virus, with a seasonal peak from end Feb/March – May, usually just before the influenza season
•It is highly contagious
• spreads by droplets coughing and sneezing
• It is very easy to contract in a preschool/ creche environment
•To prevent spread:
I.Teach cough and sneeze hygiene to all family members
II. Isolate sick children
Disease severity can range from mild to severe and even requiring admission to ICU
•Mild disease is similar to a cold with cough & blocked nose
•Severe disease occurs when infection affects airways and lungs leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia with fever, wheezing and respiratory distress

Who is at risk for severe disease?
•Any Infant

13/03/2026

Playing in mud builds children’s immune system
We are (rightly) concerned about eliminating harmful microbes, but we also need to be aware of the need for beneficial microbes
Our aim should not be hyper-sanitized home and perfectly clean children.
Science supports the idea that exposure to microbes can positively influence children’s immune systems.
Playing in these biodiverse environments such as farms and garden increases diversity in their skin and gut microbiota, along with improved immune system regulation.

At SPOT, the garden is part of our therapeutic environment. We love having you enjoy it with us!

04/02/2026

Reading aloud is not just a bedtime activity. It builds your child’s brain 🧠

-Builds phonological awareness (pre-reading skills like hearing sounds in words)
-Strengthens listening & auditory memory (important for following instructions in the classroom)
-Grows narrative skills (telling a personal story in the correct sequence and with a beginning, middle, end structure)
-Supports attention and joint attention (we can’t learn if we can’t pay attention for long enough)

Every story read aloud is a step toward confident reading later.

For parents: You don’t have to read every word!

It’s okay to:

Talk about pictures
Repeat favourite pages
Skip pages
Ask questions indirectly without expecting an answer- give your child the answer eg “hmmm, I wonder what the lion will do next. Maybe he’s going to ask for help”

Reading aloud with your child should be fun and foster an early love for reading. Interaction is ALWAYS better than perfection.

31/01/2026

Let the Riddle Challenge Begin! 🧩🔍

Each image holds a riddle waiting to be solved.

Look closely, think creatively, and enjoy the challenge!

Learning and fun go hand in hand 💙

💬 Comment your answers below (or tag someone who loves a good challenge!) — we can’t wait to see how many you get right! 😊✨

29/01/2026

The Wonders of Brain Development in Children

- Brain development begins about 2 weeks after conception and continues into young adulthood 20 years later

- More than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second in the first few years of life

- By the age of 3 years, a child has 1,000 trillion synapses (brain connections), the most they will ever have in their life

These connections are critical for cognitive, emotional and social abilities

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/

We are passionate about supporting your child’s brain development.
Our team of healthcare providers work in collaboration to assist you in developing healthy neuro-development.

Please reach out to your paediatrician if you have any questions about your child’s development.

You can make an appointment with our team by phoning our reception 010-346-5810/11.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our precious families!

As we step into 2026, our entire team wants to thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s journey.

Watching your little ones grow, learn, recover, thrive and show such incredible resilience is the absolute best part of what we do.

May this year be filled with big milestones, belly laughs, precious memories and plenty of healthy, happy days.

We are so honored to partner with you in keeping your children thriving!

Wishing you a bright and joyful 2026,

Your team at Dr Graham Jones and SPOT Care Paediatrics

Need to schedule a 2026 wellness visit? You are welcome book an appointment with our reception, and please check the EPI Immunization Schedule to stay up to date on your child’s health goals.