National Immunisation Week 23rd – 29th April 2011

26 April 2011

Next week, New Zealand will mark National Immunisation Week. This is timed to coincide with the World Health Organization's launch of the First Vaccination Week in the Western Pacific and more than 140 countries are planning activities to promote immunisation.

Taranaki is also involved, with information on immunisation being provided on a number of community notice boards throughout the region.

Dr Greg Simmons, Medical Officer of Health for Taranaki and Chair of the Taranaki Immunisation Strategy Group* says:

“Contrary to the general community perception, immunisation is just as important and relevant to health now as it has ever been. With pertussis (whooping cough) continuing to circulate in Taranaki and multiple recent measles outbreaks in the North Island it is timely  that all parents review their  children’s immunisation status.

“Immunisation not only protects the individual from preventable and sometimes severe illness, it also protects their whanau and friends,” he said.

“While the immunisation rate has been increasing in Taranaki with 90% of two year olds currently immunised, we have to do better. If we are to prevent outbreaks of serious and sometimes fatal diseases such as measles, 19 out of every 20 children need to be immunised,” said Dr Simmons.

Information relating to immunisation can be found at:

www.immune.org.nz
www.health.govt.nz

*a coalition of agencies promoting or providing immunisation services to the
communities of Taranaki

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph. 021 367 789

Last updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011