Hello, I am Dr Lily Vu.
I work with lots of families,
and I care deeply about keeping children healthy and safe.
One question I often get from parents
is about childhood vaccinations.
So today, I’ll walk you through a few common questions
to help you feel more confident about your choices.
Why are childhood vaccinations important?
Babies and young children can get sick more easily
because their immune systems are still developing.
Vaccines help protect them early,
before they’re exposed to serious diseases.
They work by training your child’s immune system
to recognise and fight infections.
This helps prevent serious illness
and protects their health in the long term.
Why is it important to get vaccines on time?
Vaccines work best
when they’re given on time,
following the National Immunisation Program schedule.
Each vaccine is timed
to protect your child when they need it most.
When most children are vaccinated,
it also protects the wider community,
including babies
and people who can’t be vaccinated.
And it’s usually still okay to vaccinate your child
if they just have a mild illness,
like a cold.
If you’re unsure,
It's always best to check with your GP
or nurse.
How can parents deal with confusing or conflicting information?
I know it can be confusing,
especially with so much information online and on social media.
There is too much information.
If you’re unsure,
a good first step is to talk
to a trusted health professional,
like your GP, nurse or pharmacist.
Try to rely on information from credible sources,
like health.gov.au,
and make sure it’s based on medical evidence.
Vaccination is one of the best ways
we can protect children from serious
Keeping your child’s vaccines up to date
helps protect your family
and the whole community.
For trusted information about childhood immunisation,
visit health.gov.au/childhood-immunisation
or speak with your GP
or healthcare provider.