Key points about diabetes and vaccinations
- tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes are at a higher risk of a range of infections
- this is because diabetes can affect the body’s immune system
- health professionals refer to this as ‘immunocompromise’
- tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes may be more likely to become very unwell, or go to hospital, because of infections
- they are also at higher risk of complications
- infections can also cause unpredictable high and low glucose levels, making diabetes hard to manage
See the page about managing children when they get sick.
Managing Children With Diabetes When They Get Sick
Prevention is the most important thing. Find out how best to prevent your child getting sick from some serious diseases.
Recommended vaccinations for children with diabetes
Paediatric diabetes teams in Aotearoa New Zealand recommend that all tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes have all their vaccinations.
Find out more about the free vaccines offered to pēpi (babies), tamariki and rangatahi at specific ages. These are part of the National Immunisation Schedule.
Extra vaccinations for children with diabetes
There are a few extra recommended vaccinations for tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes. These vaccinations are also free. They're very important to better protect tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes from the following serious diseases.
Pneumococcal disease
The pneumococcal vaccination is included on the routine childhood vaccination schedule. The pneumococcal vaccine prevents serious and life-threatening infections caused by Streptoccocus pneumonia bacteria. These bacteria cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections.
Health professionals recommend that tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes receive an extra pneumococcal vaccination to strengthen their protection.
Please talk to your health professional about the recommendations for your child.
See the Health New Zealand website for up-to-date recommendations about pneumococcal vaccination.
Flu (influenza)
Health professionals recommend that tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes, older than 6 months, have the flu vaccine. It is free for tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes.
Talk with your health professional about having a vaccination against the flu each year.
Your child can have their flu vaccination at:
- your GP practice
- Māori and Pacific vaccination providers
- many pharmacies
COVID-19
Health professionals recommend that tamariki and rangatahi with diabetes receive extra COVID-19 vaccinations. The number of doses in the primary course, and frequency of COVID-19 boosters, varies. It depends on your child's:
- age
- diabetes treatment
- other conditions they have
Talk to your health professional about which COVID-19 vaccinations your child needs.
Visit the Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora website for up-to-date recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
Acknowledgements
The content on this page has been approved by the Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Diabetes, Paediatric Society of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa.
