The National Immunisation Schedule is the series of vaccines that are offered free to babies, children, adolescents and adults.
The World Health Organization, Ministry of Health and medical practitioners / professionals recommend that children should be fully immunised.
- If enough people are immunised against diseases they don’t spread as easily.
- Immunisations are free to all children and help to protect against eleven serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whopping cough), polio, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, and human papillomavirus.
- There are six immunisation visits for your baby and child, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months, 15 months, 4 years and 11 years.
- Immunisations teach baby’s immune system to recognise and respond to the diseases in the vaccine.
- Having all the immunisations on time is important to fully protect your child. However, if a dose is missed your child can still catch up – and they won’t need to start again.
Some parents are interested in purchasing additional immunisations for their children. Vaccines against rotavirus and varicella (chickenpox) are available, but are not free. Rotavirus and varicella are very common and in a small number of cases the complications from these diseases are very serious. Talk to our family doctor about purchaseing these vaccines.
For further information visit – www.immune.org.nz or ring -0800 IMMUNE (466 863)
Certificate
An immunisation certificate will be needed when you enrol your child at an early childhood centre, kohanga reo or primary school. This is completed at your family doctors.
When having the Vaccination:
- Remain calm and relaxed, even if your child becomes upset.
- Bring along a stuffed toy or blanket for your child to hold during the immunisation, or use it to distract them.
- Hold your child securely during the procedure, talking calmly and gently stroking the child’s arm or back to reassure them.
- After being pricked by the needle your child may cry for a brief time, it’s their way of coping. Your job is to comfort, hold and talk to them supportively.
- Feeding your baby straight after their immunisation will help them settle.
- You will need to remain in the clinic for 20 minutes after the immunisation. use this time to help you child settle, this can help make the next visit easier.
Most children experience little or no ill effects after immunisations. Some of the minor effects reported are mild fever, tenderness, or swelling and redness at the site of the injection. Here are some ways to make your baby or child more comfortable after their immunisation:
- Don’t rub the injection site.
- Give your child lots of cuddles and lots of fluids.
- If you are breastfeeding, give lots of feeds.
- An ice pack, wrapped well in a dry cloth, or better still just a cool cloth, can be held over the injection site if it is sore.
- If your child gets hot, undressing them down to a single layer, for example a singlet and nappy, can help.
- Make sure the room is not too hot or too cold.
- Routinely giving babies and children paracetamol (e.g. Pamol) before and after immunisation just in case they feel unwell is NOT recommended. This is because there is some evidence to suggest paracetamol use may reduce the immune response to some vaccines.
- However, if your child is unsettled and miserable because of the fever or seems to be in pain, you might consider giving them paracetamol to make them feel more comfortable. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. Measure the dose in measuring cup, or special medicine spoon, not a teaspoon – they vary too much in size. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
If you are concerned about your child after an immunisation, contact your doctor or nurse.
