Prevention of infectious diseases through immunisation
Community and Public Health is committed to encouraging immunisation amongst New Zealanders. Our main focuses are promoting the benefits of vaccination programmes, and certifying the authorised and yellow fever vaccinators that provide this valuable service.
Some Reasons Why Vaccination is Important
Community and Public Health is an advocate for vaccination programmes because immunisation helps prevent against many diseases. Immunisation uses the body’s immune system to build resistance to specific infections.
An immunised individual helps protect the rest of the population by decreasing the possibility of a disease spreading. This is important for vulnerable people like infants, the elderly and people with impaired immune systems. However, this effect only occurs if enough people are vaccinated and is known as ‘herd immunity’.
New Zealand has a low child immunisation rate compared to other countries. This results in regular outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases every few years. The Ministry of Health has a specific target of 95 percent of infants aged eight-months will have completed their primary course of immunisation on time (six weeks, three months and five months immunisation events).
- Download or order immunisation resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- View a list of South Island Immunisation Coordinators (Immunisation Advisory Centre).
School immmunisations for Year 7 and 8 students
The school-based immunisation programme provides free immunisations for children in Year 7 and Year 8 to protect them against several serious diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and most cancers caused by HPV.
The programme is available through schools or general practices. It is a convenient way for most families to ensure that their children are protected against serious diseases.
Parents: Check your child’s school bag for the consent form for you read, sign and return to school.
Documents
- Immunisation Handbook 2017 – 2nd edition (Ministry of Health 2018)
- National Immunisation Schedule (Ministry of Health)
- Audience Research: Delayers of Infant Immunisation (Ministry of Health 2013)
- HPV Immunisation Programme Implementation Evaluation (Ministry of Health 2012)
- Targeting Immunisation: Increasing Immunisation (Ministry of Health 2011)
- Immunisation Audience Research (Ministry of Health 2011)
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Immunise your child on time
- Whooping Cough also known as Pertussis
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIb)
- Immunise against HPV
- BCG Vaccine: Information for Parents
Links
- Immunise for Life (CDHB)
- Immunisation (Ministry of Health)
- National Immunisation Register (Ministry of Health)
- Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
Contact the Communicable Disease staff at your local office for further information:
CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
Fax: +64 3 688 6091
WEST COAST
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
Fax: +64 3 768 1169
For questions on immunisation and vaccination-preventable diseases, call:
0800 IMMUNE
0800 466863
9am – 4.30pm weekdays
Year 7 and 8 Immunisation Videos
Both boys and girls are offered free immunisations at around age 11 against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis), and at around age 12 against human papillomavirus (HPV).
These immunisations are provided by general practices in Canterbury. Other parts of the South Island provide Year 7 immunisation through general practice and Year 8 at school.
Watch videos from the Ministry of Health that explain these Year 7 and 8 immunisations.
