​Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way to protect against harmful diseases.

Immunisation protects individuals and the community by reducing the spread of disease.

 

How it works

• Immunisation uses the body'​s natural defence mechanism – the immune response – to build resistance to specific infections.
• When a person is vaccinated, the body produces an immune response to fight the disease, but without the person experiencing symptoms of the disease.

 

Why

• When the level of immunisation in a community is sufficiently high, the risk of the disease spreading lowers. This communal, or herd, immunity can save countless lives.
• Vaccinating a child reduces the opportunity for that child to pass on a disease, especially to young babies who are not yet fully immunised and persons in the community who are immunosupressed.
• Vaccinating your child reduces their risk of the severity and complications of harmful diseases.

Resources

• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (for the public)
• National Immunisation Program - Frequently Asked Questions
• NSW immunisation schedule​