Give your child the best start in life

MEDIA RELEASE 9 November 2010

Give your child the best start in life

All parents want the best for their children, including the best of health. Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service is advising parents that scheduled immunisations from six weeks of age is an important way of giving children the best start in life.

Immunisation is a way of helping the body to stop harmful organisms, like viruses or bacteria, from making your child ill.

Dr Jim Miller, Medical Officer of Health at Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service, says that the level of immunisation in the Bay of Plenty is one of the lowest in the country.

“Immunisation is the best way of protecting your child from very serious illnesses such as whooping cough, hepatitis and polio. Kids in the Bay of Plenty area are being put at unnecessary risk when immunisation is delayed,” says Dr Miller.

Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service is embarking on a public awareness campaign in order to help parents to realise how critical immunisation is for their child’s health.

“Because of the low level of immunisation in the Bay of Plenty, our community immunity is reduced as well. Those of us who remember or have read about the devastating effects of polio and diphtheria would never want to see a return of these diseases, so it’s really important we keep informing parents about having their babies immunised as recommended,” says Dr Miller.

Immunisation is free at your local doctor’s surgery. Keep an eye out for more information from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service to your mailbox in the next week, or go to toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz for more information.

ENDS

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