Key points to remember about immunisation

the benefits of immunisation far outweigh the risks
there is still whooping cough in New Zealand – infants are the hardest hit. Delaying the first immunisation puts children at risk. Breastfeeding does not offer protection against whooping cough
infants can catch whooping cough from older brothers and sisters or even parents. If you have a baby or toddler, make sure your older children are up-to-date with their immunisations
take advantage of the pneumococcal vaccine (called Prevenar®) which is available free to all babies born after 1 January 2008
a vaccine (called GARDASIL®) can protect young women and girls against the cause of about 70 percent of cervical cancers - see Cervical cancer
flu (influenza) immunisation is important, and free, for children with long-term health conditions, who may develop complications from the flu - see Immunisation: The flu

Why 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.

What is immunisation?

The IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre) website has:

an explanation, using pictures, of what happens when germs invade your body

IMAC’s FAQs (frequently asked questions) include answers to questions such as:

why change the immunisations?
how well does immunisation work?
how safe is vaccination?
does my child need all the recommended immunisations?
why are combined immunisations given?
will immunisation be too much for my baby’s immune system?
what if my child has allergies or asthma?
should children be immunised if they have a fever?
how long will my child be protected by the diseases immunised against?
what are the side effects of the different types of immunisations?

The Ministry of Health website provides:

information about immunisation in New Zealand
The Immunisation Handbook 2011 (provides detailed information for health professionals - may be of interest to those parents who want more comprehensive information)

The diseases we recommend vaccinating children against in New Zealand

diphtheria
hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
measles
mumps
pneumococcal disease (see the section Pneumococcal disease below)
polio
rubella
tetanus
whooping cough, also known as pertussis (see the section Whooping cough below)

And the disease we can help protect against in girls and young women:

cervical cancer (see the section Cervical cancer below)

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.

For information on these diseases:

click the name of the illness at the IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre) website
call IMAC on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466863), weekdays 9am-4.30pm

Recent epidemics in New Zealand

There have been epidemics of the following two diseases in recent years in New Zealand:

meningococcal B disease (see the section Meningococcal B disease below)
whooping cough (pertussis) (see the section Whooping cough below)

The following disease has also been having a significant impact in our communities:

pneumococcal disease (see the section Pneumococcal disease below)

Meningococcal B disease

Meningococcal 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:

Meningococcal B disease on this website
Meningococcal disease in New Zealand at the Ministry of Health website
Immunisation - diseases no longer covered by vaccination: Meningococcal B at the Ministry of Health website

Whooping 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:

Immunisation: whooping cough
Whooping cough (information about the disease)

Pneumococcal disease

The 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.

New Zealand has had relatively high rates of pneumococcal disease but disease rates in children under two yeas of age have halved since a pneumococcal vaccine was first added to New Zealand’s routine vaccinations in 2008.

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:

ear infections (detailed and brief versions)
pneumonia

Cervical cancer

Cervical 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:

Immunisation: cervical cancer on this website

Influenza

Influenza, 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:

on this website - Immunisation: The flu
the Ministry of Health website
the National Inflenza Strategy Group website

Where to go for immunisation

Vaccines are usually given by the practice nurse at your family doctor’s surgery.

NIR (The National Immunisation Register)

National Immunisation Register pamphlet English

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:

the Ministry of Health website
brochures for parentsin English(at right) and the following languages:
– Arabic
– Cook Island Māori
– Fijian
– Hindi
– Korean
– Māori
– Niuean
– Samoan
– Simplified Chinese
– Tongan
– Tokelauan
– Traditional Chinese

New 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:

build your own immunisation calendar
register and receive email remindersof when your child’s next immunisation is due

Be there for your baby during immunisations - If you are confident, your baby will be too

Parents can help decrease anxiety about immunisations in a number of ways:

start immunising from an early age
remain calm and relaxed, even when your child becomes upset
breast feeding reduces the baby's pain
book your appointment early in the day before everyone is tired
plan a calm day
bring along a stuffed toy or blanket for your child to hold during the immunisation, or use them yourself as a tool for distraction
hold your child firmly during the procedure, talking calmly and gently stroking the child's arm or back
after being pricked by the needle, your child may cry for a brief time. It is his or her way of coping. Your job is to comfort, hold, and talk supportively
you will need to remain in the clinic for 20 minutes after the immunisation. Rather than leave immediately, stay in the practice until your child has calmed down. This will help your child to remember the clinic as a nice place and will help to make the next visit easier
for babies, book your appointment to allow you to feed your child immediately after they have had their immunisation

After immunisation

Around 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.

Informed choice

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 is important to check out the source of the material before accepting the conclusions offered. Question critically:

is it based on sound evidence?
is it up-to-date information taking the latest research into consideration?
does it relate to New Zealand?

You may find this table, on the IMAC website, useful. It compares the effects of diseases with the side effects of vaccines.

Where to go for more information

Childhood immunisation booklet (HealthEd website, Ministry of Health, NZ)

HealthEd (Ministry of Health) https://www.healthed.govt.nz

Resources 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:

the New Zealand National Immunisation Schedule
The Immunisation Handbook 2011 - provides detailed information for health professionals and may be of interest to those parents who want more comprehensive information

Acknowledgements

This fact sheet was produced in collaboration with IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre).

Your notes

Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 30/06/2011

Copyright

Fact 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

The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz

Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz

The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz

Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz

This fact sheet was printed on: 10-Feb-2012 03:45am

Immunisation: Complete fact sheet