AS the school year gets underway, health experts are urging parents to make sure their children’s immunisations are up to date.

Staying on schedule with vaccinations is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect children from serious illnesses such as whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus.

Experts say these are not diseases of the past. They still occur in South Africa and can spread quickly, especially when children have missed doses or when their protection has weakened over time. In school settings, where children learn and play closely together, infections can pass easily from one child to another, and then into homes and communities.

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In the early months of life, babies receive a series of immunisations that help their immune systems recognise and fight dangerous diseases. However, this protection does not last forever. Immunity can decrease as children grow older, which is why booster doses are needed at school age, not just during infancy.

In South Africa, children are vaccinated against diseases, including whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria and tetanus, through a series of scheduled doses. These vaccinations form part of the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), run by the National Department of Health.

The immunisation schedule begins as early as six weeks after birth, with additional doses given at specific ages, including booster shots around six years of age. Early doses help protect babies and young children when they are most vulnerable.

Booster doses later in childhood help strengthen immunity as earlier protection begins to fade. If a child misses any of these doses, they may not be fully protected even if they appear healthy.

Some parents may believe that these illnesses are mild, but health professionals warn they can have serious consequences:

Diphtheria can form a thick coating in the throat, making it difficult to breathe or swallow. It can damage the heart and nerves and spreads from person to person.

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Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. It causes painful muscle stiffness, lockjaw and breathing difficulties, and can be fatal.

Whooping cough leads to severe coughing fits that can last for weeks. Young children and babies are especially vulnerable and may struggle to breathe, vomit after coughing, or in severe cases, briefly stop breathing.

Check the Road-to-Health booklet

Parents are encouraged to take out their child’s Road-to-Health booklet or clinic card and review the immunisation section. If the schedule or recorded dates are unclear, nurses at local clinics can provide guidance.

If a child has fallen behind on their immunisations, missed doses can be given to catch up. If the Road-to-Health card has been lost, parents should not panic. A replacement can be issued at the nearest primary healthcare clinic, where staff can help reconstruct the child’s immunisation record.

Routine childhood immunisations are provided free of charge at government primary healthcare clinics as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Parents do not need medical aid or access to private healthcare services to ensure their children are protected. In some areas, schools also arrange immunisation days to help reach children who may have missed earlier doses.

Expert advice

Shaakira Abrahams, medical manager at Sanofi South Africa, says checking a child’s immunisation status is a simple but vital step in protecting their 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.

As parents prepare school uniforms, books and lunchboxes, health professionals emphasise that reviewing immunisation records should also be on the checklist. A short visit to the clinic could help shield children from preventable diseases and keep them healthy throughout the school year.