Video Series: How Does Immunisation Work?

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

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