A shot at a healthy life
The quick sting of an injection lasts a moment compared to the lifelong benefit it provides
Vaccination saves the lives of millions of children worldwide every year. It can prevent your children from being vulnerable to serious diseases such as measles, diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and other life-threatening conditions. All it takes is a quick jab or two at your local clinic to ensure your little ones are protected.
Why is immunisation so important?
Immunisation’s hidden power lies in what scientists call herd immunity. When most or all of the members of a community are vaccinated against a certain disease, it can’t spread further and will disappear. The eradication of smallpox is one such success story – one that can be repeated if all the members of a community commit to vaccination against diseases such as measles and polio. A polio-free world is a very real possibility if we all make sure our children are immunised. It’s when we don’t vaccinate that disease outbreaks can occur. The diseases we have vaccines for are often life-threatening and can result in long-term damage and disability. However, with vaccinations, these diseases are entirely preventable.
Where are vaccinations done?
Most local and community clinics vaccinate children free of charge. It’s important that your children have all the vaccinations shown on the vaccination schedule. Take the Road to Health chart with you to the clinic – this will show the healthcare professional which vaccinations your child has had.
The Discovery UNICEF Immunise SA programme
In an initiative to increase immunisation coverage throughout South Africa, the Discovery Fund has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support the Department of Health in its drive to improve maternal and child health. This programme aims to intensify their existing immunisation drive, especially in areas of critical need. The Discovery Fund is working closely with UNICEF and the various national, provincial and district departments of health to implement the programme.
The Fund is giving R5 million a year over the next three years to extend immunisation in chosen districts in South Africa. The initial focus areas are in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal – provinces that have recognised that they’re struggling to provide full immunisation. The Discovery UNICEF Immunise SA programme, launched in April 2011, has helped support a national review of immunisation in all nine provinces as well as a multi-year action plan to implement the programme strategy of reaching every child with comprehensive immunisation services. The performance, quality and safety of the programme, and the proportion of women and children who are being vaccinated, is monitored. Districts where the programme is lagging behind are being assisted in closing the gaps.
Find out more
If you have any questions about vaccines, speak to a healthcare professional at your local or community clinic, a pharmacist or your doctor.
