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Immunisation
helps to protect children from a range of infectious diseases.
Through the administration of a vaccine, either
by injection or drops in the mouth, the child's body is stimulated
to produce antibodies. It is these antibodies that help the
body's defence system fight the infectious diseases should
the child come into contact with them.
The diseases for which immunisation is offered include:
polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), Hib,
meningococcal
group C, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and tuberculosis.
These diseases can cause many serious conditions such as
blood poisoning (septicaemia), brain damage, permanent
paralysis, damage to the heart and nervous system, respiratory
problems,
pneumonia, coma and even death.
The absence of these diseases in recent years is only due
to the high level of uptake of these vaccines, though
an outbreak could easily occur if this is not maintained.
In other parts of the world they are still common and,
with
increased travel to foreign countries they could be brought
back to Northern Ireland, putting at risk children who
have not been vaccinated.
The HPA
has been commissioned by the Department of Health, Social
Services and Public Safety to develop materials
to support specific immunisation campaigns.
For details
of current campaigns see below:
Archive of previous campaigns
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