Immunisation - protecting your whakapapa

Me whakapapa te ora - Immunisation is one way to protect whakapapa

Ngā Tātai Ihorangi provides health services for the first 2000 days of a tamariki life.  Immunising our tamariki against vaccine preventable diseases not only protects them but also others in the community, those who cannot be immunised or have low immunity.

Key points to remember about immunisation:

• immunisation protects your child against a range of serious and sometimes fatal diseases
• immunisation on time is the most effective way to protect pregnant mums, babies and children from preventable disease
• immunisations begin when your child is 6 weeks old
• immunisations on the National Immunisation Schedule are free in New Zealand for babies, children and young people until their 18th birthday
• the benefits of immunisation far outweigh the risks.  

Why does my child need immunisation?

In the past, diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough killed many children. Today, we use vaccines to immunise children against these and other diseases.

Immunisation has wiped out some of the killer diseases of childhood in New Zealand.

• tetanus is very rare - although it still happens in children who haven't been immunised
• New Zealand is free of polio and diphtheria.

But, these diseases still exist in other countries.

The National Immunisation Schedule is designed to provide the best protection for our tamariki, their whānau and the hapori whānui (wider community).

Immunisations are free and normally provided at your Te Whatu Ora, Māori Health Service, Community Health Centre or GP practice.

Once pēpi is a few weeks old, you should receive a welcome letter or text encouraging you to make an appointment at six weeks for pēpis first immunisations.

If you are undecided about vaccination, please have a discussion with the practice nurse or visit www.immune.org.nz and/or call 0800 IMMUNE.

Go to our website page to find out where you can access vaccinations in Northland Northland Vaccination Clinics | Northland DHB

When to immunise your child

Northland DHB Drop-in Immunisation Clinics

All childhood and pregnancy immunisation (NOTE: Bostrix for 65+ and COVID-19 vaccinations are not available at these drop-in clinics).

(No appointment is needed at any of these Drop-In clinics):

• 16 Commerce Street, Whangārei - Thursdays, 8.30am-4pm
• 29 Rankin Street, Kaikohe - Thursdays, 9am-3.30pm. 

Our Whangārei, Kerikeri, Dargaville  and Kaitaia Vaccination clinics offer COVID-19, Influenza and all lifespan (from 6w) vaccinations for all eligible people.

For information on these other Vaccination Clinics go to this website page. 

See below for summary of when to immunise or the current schedule is be viewed on the HealthEd website.

Immunisation for older adults

Click here for immunisation information for older adults. 

Video resources