Immunisation

www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation

Immunisation is a way of preventing infectious diseases throughout a person’s life. The immunisation of New Zealanders is the key objective of the Ministry of Health’s National Immunisation Programme, as is improving health by reducing vaccine-preventable diseases such as hepatitis B, measles and influenza.

See Immunisation Schedule for information on the vaccines offered to infants, children and adults.

An overview of the newly announced HPV Immunisation Programme is available here.

Achieving higher immunisation coverage in Māori and Pacific children is also a priority. Immunisation coverage in these populations is significantly lower than in other New Zealand children. Improving immunisation rates in these groups would help to reduce health inequalities. See Immunisation Coverage Data for more information.

The Government’s commitment to immunisation is based on sound evidence. The national and international scientific consensus is that immunisation is one of the most cost effective means of preventing disease and improving health, and that risks associated with vaccines are rare (see Vaccine Safety).

Whilst improved living conditions have played an important role in the decline of communicable disease, they have not led to their eradication. Immunisation has. Immunisation has eradicated communicable diseases such as polio from most of the world (including New Zealand).

The National Immunisation Programme’s targets as identified in the Immunisation in New Zealand - Strategic Directions 2003-2006 are:

• 95% of children to be fully vaccinated at age 2 years

• 75% of the high-risk adult population to be vaccinated annually against influenza

These targets will be reviewed in 2007. See Immunisation Coverage Data for information on immunisation coverage and progress towards these targets.

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Related information

Immunisation Handbook 2006
This Handbook provides information on the National Immunisation Schedule 2006 for children and recommendations for adult immunisation.

Influenza homepage
Influenza is a serious illness and it can affect anyone. This site includes frequently asked questions, media releases, publications and links to public health resources and national influenza weekly surveillance data.

The National Immunisation Register (NIR)

Meningococcal disease information

National Influenza Strategy Group (www.influenza.org.nz)
NISG was formed in 2000 to help District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health to meet the national influenza immunisation target. It aims to increase public awareness of influenza, its seriousness and the importance of immunisation to prevent the disease.

Improving immunisation coverage Health Target

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Page last updated: 2 May 2008