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Key points about vaccinating your child during COVID-19

  • as a parent, you'd do everything to protect your tamariki (children)
  • keep up with your child's free vaccinations, due at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months, 12 months, 15 months and 4 years
  • vaccinating your tamariki at the recommended times is the best way to protect them against serious diseases
  • delaying your child's vaccinations can put them at greater risk of serious disease
  • immunise during each pregnancy to protect you and your baby against whooping cough and influenza
  • vaccination is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • ask your doctor, nurse or Māori healthcare provider how you can immunise safely

Protecting your whānau during COVID-19

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect against serious diseases like whooping cough and measles.

Vaccination during pregnancy protects your baby when they are born. It also protects you, during pregnancy, against whooping cough and influenza.

Your child's free, routine vaccinations are more important than ever. They are due at:

  • 6 weeks
  • 3 months
  • 5 months
  • 12 months
  • 15 months
  •  and 4 years

Delaying vaccination puts your child at greater risk of serious diseases, particularly whooping cough and measles.

Watch some short videos about protecting your child from serious diseases.

Vaccination Videos - Protecting Your Child From Serious Diseases

Vaccinating your child safely during COVID-19

When booking your child's vaccination appointment, call your doctor or nurse ahead of time. They can explain how they will keep you and your whānau safe while vaccinating. All healthcare services have procedures in place to make vaccination safe, for example:

  • setting aside a special day or time for vaccinations
  • spacing appointments out so there's no overlap between patients
  • cleaning appointment rooms thoroughly between patients
  • setting aside a separate area for vaccinations

Let your doctor or nurse know if you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19

Before seeing your doctor or nurse, you might need to answer a few questions about your family's general health. If you think you or a member of your whānau have been exposed to COVID-19, it's important to let your doctor or nurse know.

If you, your child or a member of your whānau is feeling sick talk to your doctor or nurse. They can let you know the best time for your child's vaccination. After your child's vaccination, you may need to wait for a short time. This is a safety measure to make sure that medical treatment is available in the rare case that an allergic reaction occurs.

Protect your whānau - immunise on time.

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