Immunisations
Childhood immunizations provide numerous benefits for children throughout the country, with specific advantages for Māori and Pacifica populations. Levin Family Health would like to highlight the importance and benefits of childhood immunizations, particularly for these communities.
Disease Prevention: Immunizations protect children from various infectious diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, and meningitis. By receiving vaccinations, Māori and Pacifica children can significantly reduce their risk of contracting these diseases, which have historically affected these populations at higher rates.
Health Equity: Immunizations promote health equity by addressing health disparities. Māori and Pacifica communities have faced higher rates of vaccine-preventable diseases in the past. By ensuring access to childhood immunizations, healthcare providers can work towards reducing these disparities and improving health outcomes for these communities.
Reduced Hospitalizations: Vaccinations help prevent severe illness and hospitalizations associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. By immunizing Māori and Pacifica children, the burden on healthcare resources can be minimized, allowing for more efficient and effective healthcare delivery.
Community Protection: Childhood immunizations contribute to community protection by establishing herd immunity. This indirect protection benefits vulnerable populations, including infants, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems. By vaccinating Māori and Pacifica children, the overall community's health and well-being are enhanced.
Empowering Whanau (Family) Well-being: Immunizations promote the overall well-being of Māori and Pacifica Whanau by reducing the impact of preventable diseases. When children are vaccinated, families experience less disruption due to illness, leading to improved social and economic stability.
Childhood immunizations offer significant benefits for Māori and Pacifica communities. By preventing diseases, promoting health equity, reducing hospitalizations, protecting communities, and empowering whanau well-being, immunizations contribute to the overall health and resilience of these populations. It is essential to prioritize access to and education about childhood immunizations to ensure optimal health outcomes for Māori and Pacifica children.
Levin Family Health provides a wide range of immunisation services including routine vaccinations for babies and children, influenza, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and Hepatitis B. Many immunisations are free including all the childhood vaccinations, like MMR, on the government’s free Immunisation Schedule. Our staff can provide more information about the schedule and non-funded but important vaccinations, such as meningitis vaccines.
Flu Vaccines are also available during the flu season, starting in April. Some people may be eligible for a free flu jab throughout the year, such as pregnant women and people with asthma, COPD etc.
A free cervical cancer vaccine is available Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) for everyone aged 9-26 years, including non-residents under the age of 18.
Meningitis vaccines are also available, including the meningococcal vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. These vaccines are recommended for all children aged 11-18 years, people who have been exposed to meningitis, people travelling or living where meningococcal disease is common, military recruits and others living at close quarters, people with rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, asthma, and diabetes or a damaged or missing spleen.
Talk to our clinical team about how to get vaccinated and if you are eligible for free vaccines.
