Vaccination / Immunization

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Immunization is important -

 Immunization is one of the best ways you can protect yourself, your children and future generations from infectious diseases. In other words, if you vaccinate, you help wipe out diseases that could spread now and into the future. Immunization saves lives.

How do vaccinations work ?

 The vaccination uses your body’s immune system to increase protection to an infection before you come into contact with that infection. In other words, it is like being infected with the disease without suffering the actual symptoms.

 If you come into contact with an infection after you’ve been vaccinated, your body works to stop you from getting the disease, or you may get just a mild case.


Things you need to know about vaccines

Do

  •  Protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases.
  •  Protect other people in your community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines.
  •  Undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced.
  •  Sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long – some children may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days.
  •   Reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated.

Don't

  •  Do not overload or weaken the immune system – it's safe to give children several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections they need.
  •  Do not cause allergies or any other conditions – all the current evidence tells us that vaccinating is safer than not vaccinating.
  •  Do not contain mercury (thiomersal).
  •  Do not contain any ingredients that cause harm in such small amounts – but speak to your doctor if you have any known allergies such as eggs or gelatine.