What is Immunisation?
Immunisation is a process that protects people against harmful infections
before they come into contact with them in the community.
Immunisation uses the body's natural defence mechanism - the immune response
- to build resistance to specific infection.
Immunisation (or vaccination) is given as an injection or, in the case of
polio vaccine, taken as drops by mouth.
If enough people in the community are immunised, the infection can no longer
spread from person to person and the disease can die out altogether. This is how
smallpox was eliminated from the world, and polio has been removed from many
countries.
Despite excellent hospital care, significant illness and death still occur
from diseases which can be prevented by immunisation.
Immunisation or Vaccination?
Either term is used now to describe
prevention of a disease by using a vaccine. Immunisation is the preferred
term.
Is everyone protected from disease by immunisation?
Immunisation
gives a very good level of protection against many important diseases. However,
sometimes, even when all doses of a vaccine have been given, not everyone is
protected against the disease.
What are the diseases?
There are quite a number of diseases which
can be prevented by immunisation. Some of the more frequently immunised against
are diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, rubella, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease
and pneumococcal disease. All of these diseases can cause serious complications
and sometimes death.
What are boosters and why should I have them?
Booster doses are
doses of vaccine given after the initial (called primary) immunisation course.
This can often be years later. Boosters are sometimes required because immunity
to the disease can diminish with time leaving the person once again vulnerable
to infection.
How do I know what I need protection from?
There are diseases which
everyone should be protected from and there are others which will be encountered
only by certain groups of people or in certain locations. Travellers, people in
certain occupations or those with chronic illnesses may need immunising against
certain diseases or need to have boosters. Some of these diseases are hepatitis
A, hepatitis B and yellow fever. Intending mothers may need immunising against
rubella. You should discuss this with your doctor.
Where do I go to be immunised against these diseases?
Many of these
vaccines are provided free-of-charge and are available from your General
Practitioner, Council immunisation clinic or other immunisation provider.
Children can also be immunised at school if your Council runs a school
immunisation program. Contact the Environmental Health Officer at your Council
for advice.
If travelling overseas to countries where certain diseases are a problem,
talk to your own doctor or one of the travel medicine centres listed in the
telephone book.
For information on immunisation sessions near you, please call your local
Council health section, General Practitioner, or immunisation provider.
The National Health and Medical Research Council publishes a schedule of
recommended immunisations for children and adults.
Where can I get more information?
Contact your General Practitioner, local Council or the Tasmanian
immunisation hotline (1800 671 738)
Information supplied is based in part on the \"Understanding childhood
immunisation\" booklet produced by the Commonwealth Department of Health and
Ageing, Canberra.