The NIR is a computerised information system (a national register) that holds immunisation details for all New Zealand children. In Tairāwhiti this register began on 15 August 2005, so all babies born from this date are on the NIR.
The NIR administrator manages the Childhood Immunisation data of all children in the Tairawhiti cohort eg babies born after 15/08/2005.
- The purpose of the NIR is to help New Zealand to improve its immunisation rates.
- The NIR helps authorised health professionals to quickly and easily find out what vaccines a child has been given-this includes children who have moved to another region or changed Doctors. This will help to make sure immunisations are given at the right time.
- The NIR also provides a more accurate record of immunisation coverage rates-regionally and nationally.
- Parents and caregivers can request their child’s immunisation information or that their information be corrected. This can be done by contacting the NIR administrator or their GP.
- Children cannot be referred to the NIR but they can be referred to OIS (Outreach immunisation Service) by GPs / Well child providers / self- referred by parents & caregivers
Please note: as additional vaccination programmes have been added onto the NIR since 2005 the NIR now holds information relating to older age groups of people for: BCG, Hepatitis B, HPV, Influenza and the immunisation data from the School Based Vaccination System (SBVS) for Year 7 (Boostrix) programme & Year 8 (HPV) programme.
The NIR administrator works alongside the Immunisation Co-ordinator, (a Public Health Nurse), Outreach Immunisation Service (OIS), (a Public Health Nurse and Kaiawhina) and B4 School team. We are all members of the Well Child team.
Referrals:
If a child is referred to OIS this is because they are either overdue their scheduled milestone immunisations or need to catch up on ones that they have missed.
- The OIS Kaiawhina will contact the parent/caregiver to arrange an appointment and the team will visit them at home to complete the immunisation/s.
- Sometimes immunisations will be completed by the B4 School Nurse at the Well Child clinic during the child’s B4 School Check (at 4 years of age).
If you would like more information or have concerns about immunising your baby, please talk to your GP or practice nurse or, for more general information about vaccines and immunisation, you can also go to:
• Ministry of Health website: www.health.govt.nz/immunisation
• Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) website: www.immune.org.nz ; or
• Call IMAC's free phone 0800 466 863 (0800 IMMUNE).
The NIR service is integrated with;
• Primary care
• Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) providers
• Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs)
• Well Child Team
• Schools
• Maori Women’s Welfare League
• Immunisation Coordinator
• Outreach Immunisation Service (OIS)
• NCHIP (National Child Health Information Platform)
The Well Child Tamariki Ora programme is free to all New Zealand families for children up to 5 years of age. Turanga Health phone number is 06 8690457
How to get in touch:
Phone: 06 8692092 ext 8732
Freephone: 0800 935524
Fax: 06 8692093
Address: Tangata Rite Building, 110 Peel Street, Gisborne 4010
Mail: to 421 Ormond Road, Private Bag 7001, Gisborne 4040
www.tdh.org.nz & Facebook.com/Hauora Tairawhiti