Why Early Miningococcal Immunisation is Important for Babies' Immune System
Posted on: Wednesday, 1 March 2006, 15:00 CST
Your child is at the highest risk of contracting meningococcal disease in the first 18 months of its life. That's why immunisation against this disease should begin once a baby reaches six weeks.
While older infants and children require only three doses, young babies require four. This is because very young babies' immune systems are still undeveloped and need the extra stimulus to build good antibody protection.
Since the Health Ministry announced in January that babies would require a fourth dose, there has been a quick response from parents and caregivers.
"This really shows that parents want their babies to have the best protection possible against this serious disease," said the ministry's MeNZB Immunisation Programme director Dr Jane O'Hallahan.
Vaccination is free and can be given at the same time as the regular childhood immunisations which protect against diseases such as polio, whooping cough, tetanus and hepatitis B.
Dr O'Hallahan said parents who were worried about the increasing number of vaccinations could be reassured children were exposed to far fewer antigens through vaccination now than 50 years ago.
"There were more antigens in one smallpox vaccination given in the past than in all the vaccines that we give children now put together," she said.
Early indications show the ministry's meningococcal B immunisation programme provides a good level of protection to those who've been vaccinated.
For more information phone 0800 203-090 or visit www.moh.govt.nz.
Source: Waikato Times
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