Why immunisation is important

COVID-19 vaccines: For information about COVID-19 vaccines, see COVID-19 vaccination.

Immunisation is important

Immunisation is one of the best ways you can protect yourself, your children and future generations from infectious diseases. In other words, if you vaccinate, you help wipe out diseases that could spread now and into the future.

By making sure you and your family are fully vaccinated (by following the National Immunisation Program Schedule set by the Australian Government), you are not only looking after your own family but also protecting vulnerable people in your community. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer people will be infected, and the less widely a disease can spread.

Immunisation saves lives. As recently as the 1950s, thousands of children died every year from diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). Luckily, it is rare for anyone in Australia to die from these infectious diseases now, thanks to the major vaccination programs introduced in the 1960s and 1970s, which continue today.

How do vaccinations work?

All immunisations work in the same way. The vaccination uses your body’s immune system to increase protection to an infection before you come into contact with that infection. In other words, it is like being infected with the disease without suffering the actual symptoms.

If you come into contact with an infection after you’ve been vaccinated, your body works to stop you from getting the disease, or you may get just a mild case. Unlike other proposed approaches to immunisation (such as homeopathy), vaccinations have been rigorously tested to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness in protecting against infectious disease.

What about people who cannot be immunised?

Some people in our community cannot be vaccinated. This might be because they are too young or too sick. You can help protect these vulnerable people by keeping your family’s vaccinations up to date.

When you get vaccinated, you are playing an important role in keeping yourself and your community safe.

When enough people in the community are vaccinated, the spread of a disease slows down or stops completely – this is because the disease can’t move easily from person to person. So as long as enough people are vaccinated, the disease will not spread. This is called herd immunity or community immunity and protects friends, family and others, especially those who cannot be immunised.

Modern outbreaks of infectious diseases

Many infectious diseases are rare or not around anymore, thanks to vaccination. But there are still infectious disease outbreaks happening around the world today:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)– a new disease that the world is still learning about. New research is happening all the time so we can understand more about the disease, including the long-term effects.
• Flu, chicken pox, whooping cough, measles – these diseases still have occasional outbreaks in Australia, mainly when introduced from overseas. They could make a strong comeback if people stop vaccinating.
• Zika – in February 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency following outbreaks in Central and South America. There is ongoing evidence of transmission throughout the Americas, Africa and other regions of the world. Over 80 countries and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-transmitted Zika infection.
• Ebola – the vast majority of people with Ebola live in Africa. The latest outbreak of Ebola virus disease started in Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2018, and is ongoing.
• HIV/AIDS – the first cases of HIV/AIDS were identified in the gay community in America in 1981 and, by 1985, at least one case had been reported from each region of the world. In 2020, approximately 38 million people around the world were living with HIV/AIDS. There is still no cure, but current treatments allow patients to live long and healthy lives.

No vaccines exist for Zika, Ebola or HIV/AIDS, but research is underway.

Immunisation surveillance

To keep you, your family and your community safe, governments need a complete picture of immunisation. That is where immunisation surveillance comes in. Immunisation surveillance involves researching and collating information on immunisation programs.

Many countries have an official immunisation surveillance body (for example, the CDC in the United States). Australia has one too, called the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

The NCIRS was set up in 1997 as an independent expert on immunisation and focuses on:

• surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases.
• vaccination coverage and adverse events.
• program evaluations.
• social research.

How new vaccines are developed

It can take a long time to develop a new vaccine. The development process is rigorous, and the vaccine is constantly monitored – even after it is being used – to make sure it is safe and effective.

A new vaccine goes through many phases of development, including research, discovery, pre-clinical testing, clinical testing and regulatory approval. Once the vaccine is approved, the vaccine is then manufactured and shipped to where it’s needed.

In certain circumstances, increased resources, concurrent clinical trials and funding can fast-track development, such as in the case of the COVID-19 vaccines.

After vaccines are introduced into immunisation schedules, they are closely monitored through trials and surveillance to see if they are effective and safe. In Australia, there are regional and national surveillance systems actively looking for any adverse events following immunisation. This is necessary, as sometimes unexpected side effects occur after vaccines are registered for use.

Some vaccines, such as the flu vaccination, need to be updated every year to respond to changing infection strains and conditions. For these updates, the process is compressed to ensure the vaccine is available as needed.

Who needs to be vaccinated?

The answer is simple – almost everyone. There are some exceptions – usually people with a serious medical condition (for example, a weak immune system). But don’t ever decide against immunisation without checking with your GP first.

Your doctor will advise which vaccinations you need based on your HALO: health condition, age, lifestyle and occupation. The Immunisation for Life infographic can help you determine which immunisations you may need.

If 95% of us are vaccinated, the spread of disease is reduced, which helps to protect everyone. Vaccination is particularly recommended if you:

• are a newborn or young child (as per the National Immunisation Program Schedule)
• have a newborn baby
• are pregnant or planning for a baby
• are caring for very young babies (for example, parents, grandparents and carers)
• are an older person
• are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child or adult
• have plans to travel outside Australia (ask your travel agent or check on the Smart Traveller website)
• are medically at risk due to certain conditions (such as asthma) or treatment.

Remember, if you are not sure about what immunisations you need, talk to your GP. If you find you are not up-to-date with your vaccinations, your GP will tell you about catch-up and booster shots.

Where can I get more information about immunisation?

Health professionals

Find out more about immunisation by speaking with your health professional. The best place to start is with your GP. You can also ask your maternal and child health nurse and paediatrician.

Online information

There is also lots of information online. When looking for immunisation information, stick to reliable information providers, such as:

• Australian Government – facts about immunisation and questions about vaccination
• Better Health Channel
• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)
• Raising Children Network
• Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC)
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Your GP (doctor)
• Nurse-on-call Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Immunisation Unit, Department of Health, Victorian Government Email: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
• National Immunisation Information Line Tel. 1800 671 811
• Maternal and Child Health Line Tel. 13 22 29 (24 hours, 7 days)
• SAEFVIC Tel. 1300 882 924 (select option 1)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria