Video Series: How Does Immunisation Work?
Immunisation is explained in these great videos from the Ministry of Health
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Introduction to how immunisation works
Viewing time: 24 seconds
What you will learn:
- Immunisation is a simple and effective way to prevent you and your family from contracting some serious diseases.
- By choosing to immunise, you are giving your child the best start to a healthy future
- You are also helping your community by reducing the spread of disease
How your immune system works
Viewing time: 52 seconds
What you will learn:
- Dr Bird explains that germs can make you very sick
- Your immune system fights off germs by producing antibodies
- It does this the first time it meets a new germ – but this can take a while
- These antibodies are why you very rarely get the same disease twice
How immunisation works
Viewing time: 42 seconds
What you will learn:
- Immunisation gives your body a chance to produce these antibodies by exposing you to a much-weakened strain of the germ
- You may get a fever and this is normal
- Your body will now be able to fight off disease as it has made the antibodies to combat it
Community immunity
Viewing time: 1m 24s
What you will learn:
- The best way to prevent disease is not coming in to contact with it in the first place
- The more people who are immunised, the better
- Some groups, like very young people or cancer patients, are extremely vulnerable to diseases
- We can protect them and ourselves by immunising our families
- Measles or whooping cough can spread rapidly and lead to an outbreak
- Community immunity benefits our whole country
The importance of immunising on time
Viewing time: 55 seconds
What you will learn:
- The New Zealand Immunisation Schedule can show you when you or your family will need vaccinations
- Pregnant women need the flu vaccine
- Babies need to be protected from whooping cough and other diseases and immunisations are recommended at 6 weeks old, then 3 months, 5 months, 15 months, 4 years and then 11 and 12 years
- Delaying immunisation puts your child at risk
Vaccine safety
Viewing time: 42 seconds
What you will learn:
- All NZ vaccines have been thoroughly tested and continue to be monitored for safety
- This is a comprehensive process lasting years
- The benefits far outweigh any potential risks and immunisation is strongly recommended by the Ministry of Health and many health professionals
Better health outcomes for our children
The Ministry of Health leads our health and disability system
The Ministry of Health has responsibility for the management and development of healthcare in New Zealand. They provide heaps of useful information for you and your family and you can find out more here.You can check out more information about the importance of protecting your children from disease on their website.
