31 January 2006
Changes to the National Immunisation Schedule
From 1 February 2006 changes to the National Immunisation Schedule (the Schedule) take effect.
The Ministry of Heath's Manager of Immunisation Policy, Dr Alison Roberts, says Haemophilus influenzaetype b (Hib)
vaccine, will replace the diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and Hib (DTaP/Hib) vaccine, currently offered to
children at 15 months of age with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
"A dose of whooping cough, or pertussis vaccine, at 11 years of age has also been added to the Schedule as part of the
combined adult diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated polio (dTap-IPV) vaccine. This will be
administered as one injection and help protect adolescents against whooping cough," Dr Roberts says.
Other changes to the Immunisation Schedule from 1 February include the introduction of a publicly funded Pneumococcal
Immunisation Programme for children at high risk of pneumococcal diseases which include brain, ear, lung and blood
infections caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
"In addition children and adults who have a splenectomy operation to remove the spleen will be able to receive the
publicly funded Pneumoccocal, Hib and Meningococcal vaccines to help limit their risk of infection," Dr Roberts says.
The National Immunisation Programme aims to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation is one of the most cost
effective means of preventing disease and improving the health of New Zealanders.
Dr Roberts says to assist immunisation coverage and disease prevention, the Immunisation Schedule is reviewed, but not
necessarily changed, every two years to enable people to receive safe and more effective vaccines as they become
available.
The Immunisation Schedule was last updated in 2002.
Further information about immunisation, the immunisation schedule, and the immunisation handbook are available through
the Ministry of Health website:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation
http://www.moh.govt.nz/publications/immunisationhandbook2002
ENDS