World Immunisation Week – vaccination saves lives

World Immunisation Week (24-30 April) is an opportunity for the Public Health Agency (PHA) to highlight the important role that vaccinations play in protecting society today, and that without them we would face a return to the days when diseases posed a real threat to human health.

Geraldine Mallon, Immunisation Programme Manager at the PHA, said: “Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we can do to protect our health. Vaccination starts before birth with pregnant women being offered vaccines to protect them and their unborn babies and continues after the baby is born though their pre-school years, teenage years and then as an older adult.”

Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseases. Many childhood diseases that were common in the UK prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether. However, we have seen a small reduction in the uptake of vaccination in recent years and as a result we are now seeing a return of diseases such as  measles and whooping cough which have both experienced a resurgence in recent years.

Geraldine continued: “The PHA strongly recommends that babies and children are vaccinated according to the Routine Childhood Immunisations Schedule. It is important vaccination coverage is improved as soon as possible to help prevent the spread of avoidable serious and sometimes deadly diseases such as measles and polio.

“If you are unsure if your child is up to date with vaccinations the easiest way to check is to look at your child’s red book or speak to your health visitor or GP. If your child has missed a vaccination, please contact your GP practice to book an appointment as soon as you can to make sure they have maximum protection against disease.”

It is only when people continue to get their children and themselves vaccinated in large numbers that we can prevent these diseases, and the possible deaths, so it is vitally important that we don’t take our health and that of our children for granted. Not only that, but getting children vaccinated also helps protect those who aren’t yet eligible for vaccination, such as tiny babies.

After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health, and therefore one of the most important things that any parent can do is get their child vaccinated and encourage them to continue this throughout their own lifetime.

For more information see www.nidirect.gov.uk/immunisation-and-vaccinations