Immunisation and how it works
A Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Agency video - transcript available on the Ministry of Health website [1].
Ministry of Health videos explain how to protect your baby from serious diseases. Immunisation is your baby's best protection. Make sure you immunise your baby on time - at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months and 12 months.
In the past, diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough killed many children. Today, we use vaccines to immunise children against these and other diseases.
Immunisation (or vaccination) has wiped out some of the killer diseases of childhood in New Zealand.
But, these diseases still exist in other countries and they are only a plane ride away.
Watch this video jointly produced by Auckland District Health Board (DHB), Northland DHB, Waitemata DHB and Counties Manukau DHB. A paediatrician briefly talks about the importance of immunisation. The video also features a family talking about their experience of immunisation.
There have been epidemics or outbreaks of some diseases in recent years in New Zealand, including:
The following diseases have also been having a significant impact in our communities:
We immunise against these diseases/infections because they can cause serious (and sometimes fatal) illnesses to our children, or cancers later in life, and we have effective immunisations available against them.
Immunisation protects your own child. It also protects those most at risk from these diseases. This includes babies who are too young for immunisation or children with weakened immune systems. These babies and children rely on those around them being immunised.
For information on these diseases, see:
The practice nurse at your family doctor's surgery can immunise your child.
The National Immunisation Schedule is the series of immunisations that are free for babies, children and teens (and adults). The Schedule lists the immunisations and the age your child can have them.
You can see the current schedule on the Ministry of Health website. [5]
It is important that your child has their full course to ensure continuing strong protection. Children need immunisations on time as delaying them leaves them at unnecessary risk of infection.
Some children may have special requirements. For example, some babies with specific risk factors may be offered:
Discuss your own child's needs with your doctor.
After the needle prick, your child may cry for a brief time. This is their way of coping - your job is to comfort, hold, and talk supportively.
Parents can help decrease anxiety about immunisations in a number of ways.
Around 1 in 10 children can expect a reaction to an immunisation. The vast majority of these are mild, such as redness on the arm or a grizzly child for a day or two. A reaction is an expected sign that the immune response is building and the vaccine is working. Occasionally, more concerning reactions occur like prolonged crying. Although worrying at the time, research shows there are no long-term problems following such reactions. However, if you are concerned, contact your nurse or doctor.
Very rarely, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can happen. This is treatable and occurs very shortly after the injection. This is why you must wait at the clinic for 20 minutes after immunisation. If you are concerned, contact your practice nurse or doctor straightaway.
Immunisation is not compulsory in New Zealand but it is a wise parenting choice. There is a lot of information on immunisation and this can be confusing. It's important to check out the source of the material before accepting the conclusions offered. Question critically:
Discuss any questions or concerns with your family doctor or practice nurse.
This page last reviewed 26 June 2018.
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Links
[1] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/immunisation
[2] http://www.immune.org.nz/vaccines/available-vaccines
[3] https://www.healthed.govt.nz/system/files/resource-files/HE1221_Immunise_their%20best%20protection.pdf
[4] https://www.healthed.govt.nz/system/files/resource-files/HE2521_Immunise_their%20best%20protection_Maori%20version.pdf
[5] https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/new-zealand-immunisation-schedule
[6] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1555
[7] https://www.healthed.govt.nz/system/files/resource-files/HE1323_Childhood%20immunisation.pdf
[8] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1554
[9] https://www.immune.org.nz/sites/default/files/resources/Written%20Resources/ConcernComparisonDiseaseVaccineImac20201001V01Final.pdf
[10] http://www.immune.org.nz/immunisation/immunisation-overview
[11] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1736
[12] http://www.getimmunised.org.nz/
[13] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1512
[14] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1912
[15] http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/national-immunisation-register-factsheet1-aug07.pdf
[16] http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/national-immunisation-register/questions-and-answers-national-immunisation-register
[17] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1557
[18] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1556
[19] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1558
[20] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F36