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01/02/10


Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) is reminding parents with children who are four years of age to make sure their child has received their scheduled booster vaccines.

This is also an excellent time for children to be given protection from Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) (human swine influenza) before the next influenza season begins.

This free vaccine is available from General Practitioners and some Community Health Centres and Councils and is recommended for all children over the age of six months.

GSAHS Immunisation Coordinator Alison Nikitas said it is important for children to receive these immunisations which are a simple, safe way to protect children against harmful infections and diseases.

“Exposing your child to the risk of these conditions is dangerous as childhood diseases can cause serious complications and sometimes death.”

Fortunately, immunisation has been responsible for a huge reduction in many serious childhood diseases.

GSAHS experienced a large increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in 2009, with close to 900 cases in the area up from 519 the year before.

"Parents should remember these diseases are easily spread from person to person, and when immunisation rates fall the diseases can return," Ms Nikitas said.

“Timely boosting at four years of age for whooping cough will help protect the immunised child as well as helping to protect any infants in the household.”

"All children should also have two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine by the time they begin school, the first at one year of age and the second at four years of age,” she said.

Recommended vaccines should be provided on time to provide children with the maximum protection against preventable diseases.

Parents should be aware that adverse reactions after vaccinations are small and the benefits of keeping a child safe and healthy far outweighs the very small risk associated with immunisation.

Common reactions may include pain and redness at the injection site, and occasionally the child may feel ‘off colour’, although this generally only lasts a day or two. 

“If you have questions about immunisation you can find more information visit http://www.immunise.health.gov.au,” Ms Nikitas added.