Plunket lends its support to National Immunisation Week

Media Release

20 April 2012

For immediate release

Plunket lends its support to National Immunisation Week

Plunket says National Immunisation Week, which kicks off on Monday, is a wonderful opportunity to promote the importance of immunisation to communities throughout New Zealand.

Plunket clinical advisor Alison Hussey says immunisation is a vitally important tool to protect New Zealand families and communities.

“The World Health Organization ranks immunisation among the most cost-effective public health measures ever developed. Immunisation has a profoundly positive effect not only on the individual but on the whole of the population, as it helps improve community immunity”, she says.

In 2011 there were a number of outbreaks of measles and whooping cough around the country. Alison says that unfortunately a misconception still exists that these diseases are not serious.

“This could not be further from the truth. Measles and whooping cough are both highly contagious infectious diseases with potentially serious complications such as convulsions, brain swelling, brain bleeding and, in the worst cases, death.

“Immunisation is a free, proven way that parents can protect their children against 11 serious diseases, including measles and whooping cough.

“It is never too late to catch up, even if a child has fallen behind on the immunisation schedule,” she says.

If parents are not sure when their child is due for immunisation they can check the immunisation schedule at www.plunket.org.nz or call their doctor.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre also offers information and advice about immunisation and preventing the spread of infection through its toll-free line 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) and www.immune.org.nz

Plunket is one of many community groups that give immunisation information to parents and caregivers. For more information about immunisation you can talk to a Plunket nurse or call PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 (24 hours 7 days).

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