Immunisation is a highly effective strategy for the prevention of infectious disease throughout life. The results of the 2005 National Coverage Survey (as summarised in the Introduction) have shown we have made progress in improving immunisation coverage in New Zealand since the previous survey in 1991. The implementation of the National Immunisation Register and the Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme have focused health professionals and the public on the benefits of immunisation. We will be able to build on these successes to use the National Immunisation Register to improve immunisation coverage so that children whose parents wish to immunise their children receive their age appropriate immunisations. The Immunisation Handbook 2006 provides information for health professionals on vaccine preventable diseases, the vaccines available, and the updated National Immunisation Schedule, as well as practical advice and strategies for health professionals immunising children and adults in New Zealand. A new chapter identifies new vaccines likely to be available in New Zealand during the time this edition of the handbook is current. The 2006 National Immunisation Schedule introduces a pertussis containing vaccine to be offered at the age of 11 years to protect adolescents and young adults against pertussis. This new vaccine provides an opportunity to decrease the impact of pertussis in young people and reduce the size of pertussis epidemics. The meningococcal B vaccine will continue to be offered to infants and children under the age of five years until it is no longer necessary to control the disease. I would like to thank the members of the Immunisation Technical Working Group who have contributed to rewriting the Immunisation Handbook 2006, and to thank all those who acted as peer reviewers. I trust this edition, like its predecessors, will prove a valuable resource for health professionals.
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