Overall the evidence points to our children being safer and healthier when the community is immunised. If you choose not to immunise your child, please be aware of how this may affect your child, other children, grandparents, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. I recommend the following:
Many of these diseases have no treatment, and even with those that can be treated there is no guarantee of a good outcome, however they can be prevented with immunisation. The risk is not only the disease, but it can also lead to other health risks, such as Pneumonia.
Vaccines are very safe. Your child’s immune system is capable of easily coping with multiple or combined vaccinations at once. Children are exposed to substances every day that trigger immune response, and a vaccine will have far less effect than a common cold or sore throat. Vaccines are thoroughly tested, and monitored by experts, and I agree that they are safe.
Good hygiene will not prevent infection of these diseases and even healthy children can become ill. If the immunisation rate in our community lowers, life threatening diseases, such as polio and mumps, can quickly reappear.
If there is an outbreak the best way to keep your child safe is to keep them home from childhood centres, Kohanga Reo, school, sports events or any other activity that could expose them to other people. Even those who are not showing symptoms may still be carrying a disease.
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of these diseases. If you are concerned that your child is showing symptoms please make an appointment to see me, and advise reception that your child is unimmunised so that we can be prepared.
You may want to consider that these vaccines are funded until the age of 18. If your child wants to travel in the future, many countries will require immunisation to enter. Some careers also require proof of immunisation, and the employer may not pay for immunisations.
If an immunisation has been declined previously, my nurse will contact you again: o If there is an outbreak of a specific vaccine-preventable disease in our area o When the next scheduled immunisation is due, or o When a vaccine is added to the funded immunisation schedule.
There is a lot of mis-information on the internet and I would be happy to point you in the direction of trusted sources. You can talk to me, your nurse, well-child provider, or free phone 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) or visit www.immune.org.nz You can also speak with a nurse anytime by phoning Healthline on 0800 611 116
References: Fact Sheet, Immunisation Advisory Centre, 2015. Myths & Facts about Immunization, World Health Organisation, 2015. Vaccine Safety Messages, World Health Organisation, 2015.