South Western Sydney Local Health District is urging parents and carers to ensure children are vaccinated on time.
While the region had a high uptake of vaccination, with 94.5 per cent of children fully vaccinated by five years of age, the rate was slightly lower at 93 per cent for children aged one year.
South Western Sydney Local Health District public health unit director Dr Naru Pal reassured parents it was safe for children with a minor illness to be vaccinated.
“Children can still get vaccinated if they have a runny nose or slight cold,” he said.
“Late vaccinations can put your child at risk of catching a serious disease.”
Parents and carers can download the Save the Date to Vaccinate app to remind them when children’s vaccinations are due.
“Immunisation saves and transforms lives – it is one of the most successful, safe and cost effective health interventions in the history of medicine,” Dr Pal said.
“Each dose of every vaccine given to babies and children is carefully chosen to provide them with the earliest protection, so it’s important to vaccinate on time.”
The NSW Immunisation Schedule recommends that children are vaccinated at birth, six weeks, four months, six months, 12 months, 18 months and four years.
With a spike in measles being experienced across NSW since last year, Dr Pal said it was a timely reminder to urge parents and carers to download the app.
The Save the Date to Vaccinate app includes the latest NSW Immunisation Schedule and allows parents to see their whole family’s vaccinations in one view.
The app is free to download from Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
Parents can contact their local public health unit on 1300 066 055 about what services are available in their area.
