Vaccines save and improve lives- Facts on immunisation
World Immunisation Week (24th-30th April)
It's World Immunisation Week on 24th-30th April. This year’s campaign, Protected Together, #VaccinesWork”, encourages people at every level to go further in their efforts to increase immunisation coverage for the greater good.
Did you know: Immunisation is estimated to save 2-3 million lives every year?
There is arguably no single preventive health intervention more cost-effective than immunisation. The global healthcare community continually endorses the value of vaccines and immunisation to prevent and control a large number of infectious diseases and, increasingly, several chronic diseases that are caused by infectious agents.
Facts on immunisation:
Immunisation-what is it?
Immunisation is a safe and effective way of protecting you and your child against serious diseases.
Immunisation protects you from harmful diseases before you come into contact with them. It uses your body’s natural defences to build resistance to specific diseases. If you come into contact with that disease in the future, your immune system remembers it, and responds quickly to prevent the disease from developing.
Vaccines are safe
All vaccines in Australia are strictly tested to make sure they are both safe and effective. In Australia, every vaccine must pass strict safety testing before the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will register it for use. Before vaccines become available to the public, they are tested on thousands of people who take part in large clinical trials. Approval of vaccines can take up to 10 years.
Vaccine side effects
You may experience minor side effects following vaccination. Most side effects last no more than a couple of days and you will recover without any problems.
Common reactions to vaccination include:
pain, redness and/or swelling where you received the needle
mild fever.
Serious reactions like allergic reactions are extremely rare. If you have a reaction that you think is severe or unexpected, seek medical advice straight away. If you have any concerns about potential side effects of vaccines, please talk to your doctor or nurse.
Immunisation allergy and asthma
Wide and varied studies show no increase in allergy or asthma due to childhood vaccines.
Vaccination helps children with asthma or allergic disease. It helps them by reducing their likelihood of getting a serious infection, that could make their asthma or allergy symptoms worse.
If you’re concerned about your child’s allergies or asthma in relation to vaccination, speak to your doctor.
Timing does matter
Skipping or delaying vaccinations puts your child and those around you at risk of contracting serious diseases
Are you up to date with immunisations?
Visit our practice today, new patients welcome!
Resources:
Australian Government Department of Health
https://campaigns.health.gov.au/immunisationfacts
World Health Organisation
http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2018/en
