Our Cost of Living Crisis resource provides details of targeted resources & support for families & children struggling with the current cost of living crisis. This document is live and will be updated regularly.
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If you would like to include info on your service, please email una.casey@hscni.net
World Immunisation Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
The ultimate goal of World Immunisation Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
During World Immunisation Week the Public Health Agency (PHA) are reminding everyone that getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we can do to protect our health.
Vaccination starts before birth with pregnant women being offered vaccines to protect them and their unborn babies and continues after the baby is born though their pre-school years, teenage years and then as an older adult.
Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseases. Many childhood diseases that were common in the UK prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether. However, once a disease fades from prominence, it is easy to forget how serious they could be. Unfortunately, unless vaccine uptake remains high in Northern Ireland, many deadly diseases will return from parts of the world where they still occur.
It is only when people continue to get their children and themselves vaccinated in large numbers that we can prevent these diseases, and the possible deaths, so it is vitally important that we don’t take our health and that of our children for granted. Not only that, but getting children vaccinated also helps protect those who aren’t yet eligible for vaccination, such as tiny babies.
Protecting your child through immunisation is one of the most effective ways to protect against infectious diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 4-5 million childhood deaths are prevented through childhood vaccination every year as well as avoiding serious health complications. It is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.
Vaccination rates have decreased slightly in Northern Ireland over recent years. It is important that vaccination coverage is improved as soon as possible to help prevent the spread of serious and sometimes deadly diseases such as diphtheria, measles and polio.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) strongly recommends that babies and children are vaccinated according to the routine childhood immunisation schedule, and are urging parents to check their child/children’s red book to see if their vaccinations are up to date or speak to their health visitor or GP.
If your child has missed a vaccination, please contact your GP practice to book an appointment as soon as you can to make sure they are protected against serious infections.
For more information please see:
Also view Why the MMR Vaccine is important for you and your family at https://vimeo.com/797645270
The guides launched on Safer Internet Day (7th February), a day that promotes the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people, were created as part of EA’s commitment to enhancing the support and guidance offered to schools in relation to social medial.
They provide advice to schools, parents and carers on the basics of how TikTok works, the potential risks associated with it and helpful tips on how to best support children and young people on the use of such platforms.
TikTok is a social media application where users can create, share and watch short videos; and which allows users to express themselves in creative ways such as singing, dancing and performing comedy sketches. However the app has brought challenges and concerns for many schools, parents and carers as highlighted by EA’s Elaine Craig:
“The importance of online safety for children and young people cannot be underestimated. While TikTok is a hugely popular platform, potential risks include social pressures, stranger danger, lack of age verification, and access to explicit content.
“We were delighted to work with online safety experts INEQE and the Department of Education on these guides which are a highly useful resource, and which form part of our long-term strategy to keep young people safe while online.”
Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseas
es. The Public Health Agency (PHA) strongly recommends that babies and children are vaccinated according to the Routine Childhood Immunisations Schedule; and are urging parents to check their child’s red book to see if vaccinations are up-to-date.
Vaccination rates have seen a slight decrease over recent years and the additional disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have caused some of the decreases in vaccine coverage. It is important vaccination coverage is improved as soon as possible to help prevent the spread of avoidable serious and sometimes deadly diseases such as measles and polio.
For more information visit Check your child’s red book to see if vaccinations are up-to-date | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
Also view Why the MMR Vaccine is important for you and your family at https://vimeo.com/797645270
