Immunisation Services
Opportunistic Immunisation Service
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Kim Hunter coordinates the Opportunistic Immunisation Service at Waikato Hospital, taking a load off busy clinical staff.
The aim of Kim’s role is to assist Waikato DHB achieve its health
target of increased immunisation (85 per cent of two-year-olds are
fully immunised by July 2010; 90 per cent by July 2011; and 95 per cent
by July 2012).
To do this, she provides and facilitates the opportunistic immunisation
of children as patients or visitors within the hospital setting, e.g.
ED, paediatric wards and clinics.
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As coordinator, she also provides ongoing education and support to
nursing and medical staff to facilitate improved immunisation rates and
best practice in the Waikato DHB region.
Mobile Immunisation Service
'Love them, protect them, immunise them'
Waikato District Health Board’s Population Health Service has recently added a Mobile Immunisation Service to its long list of community-based services.
This service is a ‘hub and spoke’ model that aligns the
National Immunisation Register to a dedicated, centrally based mobile team of vaccinators and support staff.
The service primarily focuses on vaccinating children aged 0-6 years, with an even greater concentration on vaccinations in under-two-year-olds.
The mobile service does not replace current outreach services operating in various Waikato towns.
Some areas however, do not have an outreach immunisation service provider, but referrals are still received in these areas.
Currently, demand for immunisations outweighs outreach immunisation service capacity therefore the mobile service will work as a support mechanism to these.
What is the National Immunisation Register (NIR)?
The
NIR is a computerised information system that holds the immunisation details of your child.
After the birth of your child, information will be sent from your maternity hospital or lead maternity carer to register your child on the NIR.
It will help you and your health care provider to keep a record of your child’s immunisations as it will be updated as they are received.
The NIR has now been capturing immunisation data on every baby born in the Waikato since July 2005.
How does the Mobile Immunisation Service work?
The NIR prompts reminder notices to your medical practice when your child’s immunisations are due. However, many families may no longer be registered with a practice or be unreachable.
These referrals are sent back to the NIR and then referred on to the mobile immunisation team.
Where does the mobile go?
Pretty well anywhere and everywhere. The beauty of the Mobile Immunisation Service is that vaccinations can be carried out in remote areas throughout the Waikato region. The mobile can go to homes, community halls, marae, churches etc and provide vaccinations to your child.
What vaccinations do the children receive?
There is a standardised course of immunisations for your child, including booster shots. It is important they have their full course, including boosters later on to ensure continuing strong protection.
It is also important these are given in a timely fashion as delaying vaccinations leaves children unnecessarily vulnerable to infection.
Age due
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DTaP- IPV-
HepB/Hib
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PCV71
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Hib
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MMR
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DTaP-IPV
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dTap
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HPV
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Influenza2
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6 weeks
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3 months
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5 months
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15 months
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4 years
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11 years
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12 years (school-year 8) starts in 2009
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- Babies born from January 1, 2008 are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7)
- Influenza vaccination for adults and children from 6 months with certain chronic medical conditions
Vaccine KEY:
- BCG: tuberculosis;
- DTaP: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis* - child
- dTap: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis - adolescent/adult
- HepB: hepatitis B
- Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b
- HPV: human papillomavirus
- IPV: inactivated polio vaccine
- MeNZB: meningococcal B
- MMR: measles, mumps, rubella
- PCV7: pneumococcal
- Td: tetanus, diphtheria – adult
*Pertussis is commonly known as whooping cough.
Who carries out the immunisations?
The Mobile Immunisation Service consists of two teams, each with an experienced community nurse vaccinator, who is assisted by an experienced community support worker.
Contact
Mobile Immunisation Service
0800 100 273 Immunisation Advisory Centre
0800 466 863
