Immunisation facts in 90 seconds

If you're a mum, dad or caregiver of a child five years and under, it's important to know the facts about immunisation. Nearly 95% of Aussie five year olds are now fully vaccinated. But we need to do more to protect all our kids. Some areas in our country have lower immunisation rates, and this puts the whole community at risk. Particularly new born babies. This is called community immunity. When more children are vaccinated, it lowers the risk of serious diseases spreading in our communities. All childhood diseases we vaccinate against in Australia, like whooping cough and measles can cause serious illness, including death. Vaccinations strengthen your child's immune system. They work by making your child's body produce an immune response, including antibodies whose job it is to fight disease. Vaccines are proven to be a safe and effective way of protecting your child against these diseases. In Australia, we thoroughly test all vaccines available to the public for safety and effectiveness, and continually monitor them. Skipping or delaying vaccinations puts your child and those around you at risk of contracting serious diseases. That's why it's really important to immunise on time. If you forget, speak to your doctor or child health nurse about catching up. So remember, immunisation protects all our kids. Immunisation saves lives.