Parents urged to check children’s Road-to-Health cards to ensure all immunisations are up to date, protecting both their child and classmates from preventable illnesses.
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With the first term well under way, parents are being reminded to ensure their children’s immunisations are up to date. Routine vaccinations help protect children against serious illnesses such as whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus – diseases that still exist in South Africa and can spread quickly, especially if doses have been missed or immunity has worn off.
“When one child gets sick, the disease can easily spread to other children at school, in crèches, and at home,” experts say.
Vaccinations given to babies at clinics teach the body how to fight dangerous diseases. However, this protection does not last forever. Over time, immunity can decrease, which is why booster doses are needed at school age.
Children in South Africa receive immunisations in a series of doses against diseases such as whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, and tetanus. These work best when given on time, following the National Department of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Parents can check with primary healthcare clinics or health care providers for guidance on when immunisations should start, such as from six weeks after birth, and when boosters are needed, such as at six years of age.
Early doses protect babies and young children when they are most vulnerable. As children grow, protection can weaken, which is why booster doses are crucial. Children who miss immunisations may not be fully protected, even if they appear healthy.
Some parents may believe these illnesses are mild, but they can be serious:
Diphtheria can form a thick layer in the throat, making it hard to breathe or swallow, damage the heart and nerves, and can spread from person to person.
Tetanus enters through cuts or wounds, causing painful muscle tightening, stiff jaws, difficulty breathing, and can be fatal.
Whooping cough causes long, painful coughing fits. Babies and young children may struggle to breathe, vomit after coughing, or, in severe cases, stop breathing briefly.
Parents are advised to review their child’s Road-to-Health booklet or clinic card to check which immunisations have been administered. Nurses at clinics can help interpret the dates and provide any missed doses.
If a card is lost, a replacement can be obtained at the nearest primary healthcare clinic, which will assist in rebuilding the child’s immunisation record.
Routine childhood immunisations are free at government clinics under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. No private doctor or payment is needed. Some schools also host immunisation days, particularly for children who may have missed earlier doses.
Shaakira Abrahams, Medical Manager at Sanofi South Africa, says checking immunisations is one of the simplest ways to protect a child’s health. “Routine immunisations help protect against serious illness. If the card is missing, you can get a replacement at your local clinic. Keeping immunisations up to date helps safeguard your child, their classmates, and your community,” she said.