Childhood immunisation
Immunisation is also known as vaccination and is the most effective way to protect your child against diseases that can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, illnesses.
Immunisation uses your body’s natural defence mechanism, the immune response, to build resistance to specific infections. If you have been immunised and you come into contact with that disease, your immune system will respond to prevent you from developing the disease.
Childhood diseases
Immunisation protects children from these diseases:
Immunisation in Nelson Marlborough
Registered nurses who work with the Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service help ensure that our babies and children are protected from diseases.
They work with local schools to run school-age immunisation education and delivery programmes. They also check whether children have been immunised before they start school. This occurs during a child’s ‘B4 School Check’.
The National Immunisation Schedule
The National Immunisation Schedule is the series of vaccines that are offered free to pregnant women, babies, children, adolescents and adults.
The schedule is listed on the Ministry of Health's website.
The National Immunisation Register
The National Immunisation Register (NIR) is a computerised information system that has been developed to hold the immunisation details of New Zealand children.
Learn more about the NIR here.
Early childhood centre outbreak prevention
Nelson Marlborough Health's Public Health Service helps to reduce the likelihood of infectious disease outbreaks at childcare centres.
They do this by providing:
- health assessments (charges may apply) and reports are required under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
- general public health advice and guidelines for people planning a new centre, renovations or re-licencing a centre
- specialist advice about drinking water, disease outbreaks and chemical hazards.
There is potential for disease transmission among children at centres because:
- children under five years old are likely to have poorly-developed personal hygiene habits
- there is a high level of physical contact between children
- nappy changing is a high-risk activity
- food may be shared
- children tend to place items in their mouths and may contaminate those items.
See more:
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2
Further information
The Immunisation Advisory Centre website has information about vaccines, diseases and making an informed decision. Go to this website
The Health Navigator website has information about diseases and immunisation, including fact sheets in multiple languages. Go to this website
The Kids Health NZ website has information about childhood diseases and other common conditions. Go to this website
Making an informed choice
The World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health recommend that you immunise your children. Immunisation is your choice – if you have questions or would like more information, you can:
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talk to your family doctor, nurse, lead maternity carer or Plunket nurse
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lookup immunisations in your baby’s Well Child Tamariki Ora book
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refer to the Ministry of Health's guide for parents
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call the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) or visit www.immune.org.nz
Page last updated: 21/11/2022