Complacency paves way for infections

Experts say diseases still pose a very real threat, writes KATHERINE HOBY.

Parents have become complacent about immunising their children says Marguerite Dalton, a paediatrician and medical adviser for the Immunisation Advisory Centre.

She says children are being exposed to diseases that are a real threat.

"Parents don't seem to think they're real," she says.

"With something like measles, the comment I've heard more times than I care to mention, is that it's just a childhood disease.

We had a measles epidemic in 1991 and children died, for goodness' sake. What more warning do you want?"

Whooping cough was sometimes viewed as "just a disease of the poor" she said.

"It can hit anyone and it can be very nasty. We're having an epidemic here right now.

"It is particularly dangerous for very young infants."

Dr Dalton says delaying the first immunisation, due at six weeks, puts children at risk.

Breastfeeding does not protect against whooping cough, she says.

Centre director Nikki Turner says it is vital that a baby's immunisation schedule starts at six weeks. The biggest reason? Whooping cough.

New Zealand is at present at the end of a whooping cough outbreak, she says.

One eight-week-old baby died during the epidemic.

"Parents often think their baby is too young at six weeks to have injections, but the truth is babies are exposed to hundreds of bugs daily from birth. Six weeks is fine."

Dr Turner warns against being lulled into a false sense of security by the name whooping cough.

"It is not just a cough. They often cough so badly they vomit, have brain damage or bleeds into the brain. It's not fun."

Dr Dalton says it is human to forget about some conditions or diseases, because as the rates of immunisation increase, the rates of diseases drop.

"We stop seeing it around and people forget about them but these diseases are not gone."

Often as different vaccines are developed, patients have more adverse, mostly minor, reactions.

"People end up worrying more about the side-effects than the disease."

She said there were measles epidemics in 1991 and 1996-97 and, because of the low immunisation rates, a further epidemic was due.

"The overriding theme is that immunisation is the safest thing we've got," she said.

"It's like a seatbelt - you're a darn sight safer than if you're not wearing it."

Dr Turner accepts that some people have reservations about immunising their children.

"Nothing can be absolute or 100 per cent guaranteed.

"But in the end it is the best weapon we have."

COUNTDOWN TO THE JAB

BY SIX WEEKS

Your baby is due to have two injections:

* One covers diphtheria, polio, tetanus and whooping cough.

* The other covers HIB meningitis and hepatitis B.

BY 15 MONTHS

Your baby is due to have two injections:

* One for measles, mumps and rubella.

* A booster for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and HIB meningitis.

BY FOUR YEARS

Your child is due to have two injections:

* A second one for measles, mumps and rubella.

* A further booster for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.

PLUS ...

* A child is due to have two injections at three months, which are identical to those given at six weeks, and two injections at five months.

* At 11 years old, a child will have an immunisation for tetanus and diphtheria. Some may need a fourth dose for polio.

* Parents should not be too concerned if they have not kept up with the schedule. They should contact a GP or practice nurse to seek advice.

For more information call the Immunisation Advisory Centre information line on 0800-466-863.

Immunisation Advisory Centre


nzherald.co.nz/health