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Immunisation: Complete fact sheetDisclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. Key points to remember about immunisation
 Back to TopWhy do we need immunisation?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. Tetanus is not common any longer (although it still occurs in children who haven't been immunised) and New Zealand is free of polio and diphtheria. While these diseases still exist in other countries, however, they are only a plane ride away.
Back to TopWhat is immunisation?The IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre) website has:
IMAC’s FAQs (frequently asked questions) include answers to questions such as:
The Ministry of Health website provides:
Back to TopThe diseases we recommend vaccinating children against in New Zealand
And the disease we can help protect against in girls and young women:
These diseases have been chosen for immunising against because they are among the most dangerous to our children and because we have effective vaccines available against them.
Back to TopRecent epidemics in New ZealandThere have been epidemics of the following two diseases in recent years in New Zealand:
The following disease has also been having a significant impact in our communities:
Back to TopMeningococcal B diseaseMeningococcal B disease is a bacterial infection which causes severe illnesses including meningitis (an infection of membranes that cover the brain) and septicaemia (a serious infection in the blood).
There are several different strains of bacteria which cause meningococcal disease. The Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme was designed to help control an epidemic of a New Zealand-specific strain of meningococcal B disease. The Immunisation Programme began in 2004 for all under-20-year-olds (those at highest risk) and ended in 2006. Routine immunisation for babies and preschoolers continued until June 2008. The last phase of the programme, immunisation for people with a high medical risk, ended in March 2011. The number of people developing meningococcal disease due to the epidemic strain of meningococcal B has significantly decreased - from over 300 cases in 2001 to less than 30 cases in 2010. As a result vaccination is no longer needed to control an epidemic. It is important to remember that even though there are now fewer cases, the disease has not entirely disappeared. For more information, see the following:
Back to TopWhooping cough (pertussis)This is a serious disease in children, especially those who haven't been immunised and are less than one year old.
Whooping cough is not under control in New Zealand.
For more information, see the following fact sheets on this website:
Back to TopPneumococcal diseaseThe bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae causes infections in different parts of the body such as the sinuses (sinusitis) and in the ear (ear infection or otitis media). When it attacks other parts of the body it becomes ‘invasive’ resulting in very serious infections including pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation of the brain lining).
Babies and young children with pneumococcal disease can get very sick - some die.
There are over 90 different types (strains) of pneumococcal bacteria. Before July 1 2011, the pneumococcal vaccine covered the seven most common pneumococcal types that cause disease in infants and young children. From 1 July 2011, children are getting more protection from pneumococcal disease. Premature babies and children with medical conditions that put them at high risk of becoming seriously ill with pneumococcal disease are being offered a vaccine that provides protection against 13 instead of seven strains. All other New Zealand children will be offered a pneumococcal vaccine that protects against 10 instead of seven strains, once supplies of the existing vaccine run out (later in 2011). For more information about pneumococcal disease, see the IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre) website. See the following fact sheets on this website:
Back to TopCervical cancerCervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus or womb, and is at the top of the vagina.
It's caused by a common virus called HPV or human papillomavirus that is spread through sexual contact.
About four out of five people have HPV infection at some time in their lives but most HPV infections clear naturally and don't develop into cervical cancer. If abnormal cells occur and go untreated, cervical cancer can result many years later.
The cervical cancer or HPV Immunisation Programme, which began in September 2008, aims to reduce cervical cancer in New Zealand by protecting girls against HPV infection.
The vaccine being used in the New Zealand Programme is GARDASIL® which protects against the cause of about 70 percent of cervical cancers.
For more information about cervical cancer immunisation, see:
Back to TopInfluenzaInfluenza, commonly called 'the flu', is an infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu can be a serious and sometimes life-threatening infection. It infects many people every year during the winter months in New Zealand.
Flu immunisation offers the best protection. It strengthens your child's ability to fight the flu.
Flu immunisation is especially important, and free, for children with certain long-term (chronic) health conditions. This is because these children are most likely to develop complications from the flu, such as chest infections.
For more information about influenza, see:
Back to TopWhere to go for immunisationVaccines are usually given by the practice nurse at your family doctor’s surgery.
Back to TopNIR (The National Immunisation Register) New Zealand’s NIR (National Immunisation Register) records children’s immunisations. This helps keep track of what your child has been given and makes sure that when changing doctors, the records move too. For more information, see:
Back to TopNew Zealand childhood immunisation schedule The national immunisation schedule is the series of vaccines that are offered free to babies, children and adolescents (and adults). The schedule lists the immunisations and the age at which they’re given - see the schedule (at right) at the Ministry of Health website. It is important that your child has their full course to ensure continuing strong protection. Immunisations need to be given on time as delaying them leaves children unnecessarily vulnerable to infection.
Some children may have special requirements; for example, babies with specific risk factors may be offered hepatitis B immunisation early or the BCG vaccine to protect against tuberculosis. Discuss your own child’s needs with your doctor.
The IMAC website allows you to:
Back to TopBe there for your baby during immunisations - If you are confident, your baby will be tooParents can help decrease anxiety about immunisations in a number of ways:
Back to TopAfter immunisationAround one in ten 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.
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 vaccination. If you are concerned, contact your practice nurse or doctor straightaway.
For information about the safety of vaccines, check the websites listed below.
Back to TopInformed choiceImmunisation 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 is important to check out the source of the material before accepting the conclusions offered. Question critically:
You may find this table, on the IMAC website, useful. It compares the effects of diseases with the side effects of vaccines.
Back to TopWhere to go for more information HealthEd (Ministry of Health) https://www.healthed.govt.nzResources available include the following:
Immunisation Advisory Centre www.immune.org.nz
For questions on immunisation, vaccination-preventable diseases or a specific vaccine, you can contact the Immunisation Advisory Centre. Call free on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466863), weekdays 9am-4.30 pm Email: imac@auckland.ac.nz Medsafe - Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) www.medsafe.govt.nz
In some cases, more information on a particular vaccine is available on the Medsafe website. Go to consumer Medicine Information (CMI). Ministry of Health Immunisation pages www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation.html The immunisation section of the Ministry of Health website includes:
Back to TopAcknowledgements This fact sheet was produced in collaboration with IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre).
Back to TopYour notesEndorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 30/06/2011
CopyrightFact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation. © The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012
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