Immunisations

Immunisation can protect people against harmful infections, which can cause serious complications, including death. It is one of the most effective, and cost-effective medical interventions to prevent disease.

Immunisation uses the body’s natural defence mechanism, the immune response, to build resistance to specific infections. When an immunised person comes in contact with that disease in the future, their immune system will respond to prevent them developing the disease.

Be on time. Immunise on time, every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YDEFIYvdIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA7mwzaSBS8

see http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation for more information

When should you have your child immunised?

6 Weeks 

3 Months

5 Months

12 Months

15 Months

4 Years

FAQ

Are vaccines safe?

As with any medicines, immunisations have risks as well as benefits. Serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), are very rare and vaccines are considerably safer than getting the diseases that they protect against.

Before any vaccine can be used it will have been through extensive scientific research and independent review, more than any other prescription medication. This is not only to show that they are safe, but also to prove that they work.

Before any vaccines are made available to the public or added to an immunisation schedule, the scientists have to be completely convinced that they’re not dangerous. This process can take ten years or more. Only vaccines with excellent safety profiles are licensed for use in New Zealand.

Even after a vaccine is made available its safety continues to be monitored both in New Zealand and overseas, to ensure it provides the safest, best possible protection possible.

 

With the large number of measles cases around the country, we can expect to see some measles cases on the Coast at some stage.

Measles is a highly infectious virus that can be life threatening. Complications occur in about one in three people, and for them measles can be serious, even fatal.

https://www.wcdhb.health.nz/media-release/health-news-measles-facts/