Immunisation saves lives

When it comes to your child's health and well-being, it's better to be safe than sorry. 

Did you know you can protect your children from harmful diseases by visiting your nearest health facility for free vaccinations? It's one of the most cost-effective health investments you can make. 

What's immunisation?

Immunisation is when you're given a vaccine to make you immune or resistant to an infectious disease. Vaccines stimulate the body's own immune system to protect you against specific infections or diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) immunisation saves between 2 - 3 million lives a year.

WATCH: Immunisation saves lives

Protect your child against infections

HIV-positive children are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. Immunisation provides the most effective means through which parents can protect their children against serious but preventable diseases. Children who haven't been immunised are more likely to get an infection. 

What diseases do children get vaccinated against?

• Polio: Polio is caused by germs that attack nerves, causing weakness or paralysis of the leg and/or arm and if severe, may involve the respiratory or breathing muscles.
• Measles: Measles causes a high fever, red eyes, coughing and a rash, and can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration, deafness, eye complications, pneumonia, brain damage and even death.

• Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) is a serious illness that affects mainly children under the age of five years, and death from Hib disease is common in children under the age of one. Some die of the child mage or paralysis. 

• Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver, which can cause liver damage, liver cancer and death. 

• Pertussis (whooping cough) starts with a headache, fever and cough. The strenuous coughing bouts make it hard for a child to eat, drink or even breathe. 

• Tetanus (lockjaw) occurs when a toxin produced by a tetanus germ from the soil enters a cut or wound. The germ can cause muscle spasms, breathing and heart problems, and death. The chances of dying from this condition are very high. 

• Diphtheria is a dangerous bacterial disease, which makes it difficult to breathe. Children who survive diphtheria disease suffer permanent damage such as blindness, deafness and brain damage.

• Bacilles Calmette Guerin (BCG): Prevents Tuberculosis (TB). Meningitis is a serious disease that can affect people of all ages. Those that get TB suffer from coughing for a long period, chest pain, sweating at night, weight loss and even death if left untreated. In young children, the TB germ may infect the brain and cause meningitis, or it could also enter the blood and spread to other parts of the body. The best protection for young children for diseases caused by the TB germ is the BCG vaccine.

Babies who aren't given the BCG vaccine at birth will be immunised when they're taken to the clinic for their next immunisation visit, at 6 weeks of age. Any baby under one year who didn't get the BCG vaccine at birth must be taken to the nearest clinic, where the vaccine will be given.

Babies infected with HIV, who are sick and showing sign of AIDS, mustn't get the BCG vaccine.

The Western Cape Department of Health also vaccinates against Rotavirus (one of the viruses that cause diarrhoea) and Pneumococcal disease (for example, meningitis, otitis media, pneumonia and bacteraemia).

What vaccination services are available?

Immunisation is available at all primary healthcare clinics and centres as well as secondary and tertiary level healthcare facilities.

Always take your child's Road to Health Chart/Booklet to the clinic with every visit to ensure that all the immunisations are up to date.

• Vaccinations are available throughout the year, at all public primary health care facilities and centres.
• During Child Health Season, usually between April and June, the Western Cape Department of Health enables mobile teams to visit creches and daycare centres throughout the province, ensuring that children get vaccinated, and administering catch-up doses.
• Special campaigns focusing on vaccination runs throughout the year. This includes the Influenza Vaccination Campaign (from April to June).
   

What's the cost?

All the vaccines on the routine schedule RTHB Immunisation Form are free of charge at all public primary health care facilities and centres. Always take your child's Road to Health Chart/Booklet to the clinic with every visit to ensure that all the immunisations are up to date.

Who can I contact?

For more information on immunisation, contact your local clinic or the
South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC)

• Tel: 012 521 3880 / 4227
• Email: info@savic.ac.za
• Website: www.savic.ac.za

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health