Vaccination is one of the important tools used to protect people from vaccine preventable diseases. African Vaccination Week highlights the importance of keeping immunisation high on the public health agenda and encourages communities to make sure eligible individuals receive the vaccines recommended for them. The South African Department of Health describes vaccination as an important way of protecting children from potentially serious illnesses and provides routine childhood vaccinations through public clinics.

Vaccines do more than protect the individual receiving them. High vaccination coverage can help reduce the spread of vaccine preventable diseases within communities, including among people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.

African Vaccination Week also provides an opportunity to address questions and misconceptions about vaccines. Reliable information from healthcare professionals can help people understand how vaccines work, why they are recommended and when they should be given.

This awareness week is particularly relevant to World Health Day and Health Awareness Month, as vaccination forms part of the wider effort to prevent illness and support healthier communities.

Need More Information?
The South African National Department of Health advises parents and caregivers to speak to their local clinic nurse about childhood immunisation. Public clinic childhood vaccinations are provided free of charge.