Radio Q & A 1. Why do we immunize children? Immunizations protect children from some diseases such as measles, whooping cough and polio. Immunization also helps stop these diseases from spreading between people. Immunization helps the child grow strong and healthy. It saves lives. 2. How does immunization work? Immunization works by preparing a child’s body to recognise the germs that cause a specific illness. It helps prepare the body to be able to destroy the germs quickly, often before the child becomes unwell and prevents the spread of sickness to others. 3. Why does my child need to be immunized for a disease that is rare? Some diseases are not very common anymore because immunizations stop them from spreading, but they still exist in our communities and make people sick. Diseases travel quickly and easily from place to place. Without the protection provided by immunization, diseases like polio, measles and whooping cough would easily spread throughout PNG. 4. Is Immunization safe? Yes. Research shows that immunization is both safe and effective. All vaccines have been fully tested and are approved for use in PNG. Children’s immune systems are strong enough to handle multiple doses at once. 5. What about the side effects from immunization? Some children may have minor side effects after immunization, like a slight fever or swelling at the injection site. A scar from some vaccines is normal – as most people will have with the TB vaccine. These are good signs which show that the child’s immune system is strong, and they are making antibodies to keep them healthy. 6. Why do children receive more than one dose per visit? At each visit, a child will receive between 1 and 4 vaccines. Children need more than one vaccine as each one works to protect against different diseases. Some vaccines require multiple doses, in order to fully protect children against disease. 7. How many times will I need to take my child to receive immunizations? You should take your child for seven immunization visits in the first two years of life. These visits are at Birth, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 18 months (1.5 years) 8. What if my child did not get their vaccine when they were supposed to, or they have gotten behind schedule? Although it is important to immunize on time, it is never too late to start getting immunizations. If your child has had some of their vaccines but then fell behind in their schedule, they do not have to start over. The vaccines already given are important. You will need to continue the vaccination schedule based on the vaccines your child still needs, which your health care provider can determine and explain 9. How many times should pregnant women be vaccinated against Tetanus? Two doses of tetanus toxoid and diphtheria (Td) vaccine are given during every pregnancy. The first dose should be given as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, and the second dose given four weeks after the first dose to protect them and their newborn babies against Tetanus. What are some important things to remember? • Vaccines are safe and effective • Remember to take a child for immunization 7 times in their first two years of life • Immunization is the responsibility of the whole community, including mothers and fathers. • It is important to keep a record of your child’s immunization. Always bring their Child Health Record Book so clinic visits can be accurately recorded. • It is important to take your child to your correct health facility to ensure records are up to date. Tok Pisin Version 1. Why bai yumi givim ol banis sut long ol pikinini ? Beibi sut i save lukautim ol pikinini long sampela sik olsem misels, wuping kof na polio. Na tu, banis sut sa hepim ol long passim ol dispela sik long i go long ol narapela. Taim pikinini i kisim beibi sut, dispela i helpim em kamap strong na i gat gutpela helt. Em i save savim laip bilong man. 2. How beibi sut save wok insait long bodi? Beibi sut i save helpim ol body bilong ol pikinini long luksave long ol binatang jem i save kamapim wanpela sik. Em i redi long paitim ol binatag jem hariap, na planti taim dispela i save banisim pikinini long kisim sik na i no ken givim sik long ol narapela. 3. Bilong wanem pikinini bilong mi mas kisim banis sut bliong wanpela sik i no save kamap planti? Sampela sik i no kamap planti moa long nau, long wanem, ol banis sut i pasim ol long kalap nabaut, tasol ol i stap yet long komyuniti bilong yumi na sa mekim ol man meri sik. Ol sik i save isi long kalap i go long ol narapela hap hariap. Sapos ol i no kisim ol banis sut, ol sik olsem polio, wuping kof na misels bai spred i go long olgteta hap bilong PNG. 4. Yu ting beibi sut i seif? Yes. Ol wok painimaut is soim olsem beibi em i nogat hevi long en na em inap helpim ol man. Ol i traim pinis olgeta marasin na ol i orait long yusim long PNG. Ol pikinini i gat strong long sakim sik na ol inap kisim planti dose wantaim. 5. Olsem wanem long ol side afekts i save kamap taim ol pikinini kisim banis sut? Sampela pikinini inap kisim sampela liklik sik bihain long kisim banis sut, olsem liklik sik fiva o liklik solap lo hap ol i kisim banis sut. Olsem banis sut bilong sik Tb i save kamapim mak bilong skin, na planti man i save kamapim mak bilong skin na planti man i kisim bais sut bilong sik TB. Ol dispela ol samting i soim olsem bodi bilong pikinini i gat strong, na em i kamapim ol antibodi o banis bilong lukautim helt bilong em. 6. Bilong wanem ol pikinini i kisim planti marasin long wanpela taim? Long olgeta taim em i go long klinik, em bai kisim 1 i go inap 4 dos. Ol pikinini i mas kisim moa than wanpela banis sut, long wanem, olgeta banis sut i lukautim ol long ol narapela,narapela sik. Sampela beibi i mas givim planti taim bilong lukautim ol pikinini long sik. 7. Hamas taim bai mi mas kisim pikinini bilong mi i go long kisim banis sut? Yu mas kisim pikinini bilong yu i go long 7-pela taim bilong kisim banis sut insait long 2-pela yia bilong em i stap laip. Taim mama I karim pikinini, 1-pela mum, 2-pela mun, 3-pela mun, 6-pela mun, 9-pela mun na 18-pela mun (1.5 krismas). 8. Olsem wanem sapos pikinini bilong mi i no kisim banis sut bilong em long taim em i mas kisim, o em abrusim skedule? Tru, em i bikpela samting long kisim banis sut long taim stret. Sapos pikinini bilong yu i bin abrusim sampela banis sut, em i orite, em i ken kisim ol ketch-up dose na ken kontinyu wantaim skedule. Ol nes na dokta long haussik ken givim yu gutpela toksave na halivim yu wantaim dispela. 9. Hamaspela taim bai ol mama bel kisim banis sut bilong daunim sik tetanus? Ol mama bel i mas kisim 2-pela dose bilong tetanus toksoid na difteria. Ol i mas kisim namaba wan banis sut taim ol i save olsem ol i gat bel, na namba tu banis sut, ol i mas kisim 4-pela wik bihain long fespela, bilong lukautim ol yet na beibi bilong ol lo sik tetanus. Wanem sampela bikplea samting yumi mas tingim abautim banis sut? • Ol banis sutsut i seif na i save wok gut. • Noken lus tingting long kisim pikinini bilong yu i go long kisim banis sut 7-pela taim insait long 2-pela yia em i stap laip. • Olgeta manmeri bilong peles, na ol mama na papa tu, ol i gat risponsibiliti long banis sut. • Em I bikpela samting long raitim ol banis sut sut pikinini i kisim. Oltaim, yu mas kisim klinic buk bilong ol pikinini bilong yu i go wantaim yu, na bai yu ken save gut long helt rekod bilong pikinini bilong yu. • Em i bikpela samting long kisim pikinini bilong yu i go long correct helt klinic bilong yu, long wanemn ol helt klinic bai holim gut ol rekod bilong yu.