Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Warning over declining vaccination rate
21 Jan, 2010 04:27 PM
Australia is facing the re-emergence of diseases not seen in wide circulation for decades, with childhood vaccination rates now in a serious decline.
The nation's vaccination rate is now at a seven-year low, with 83 per cent of four year-olds covered and below the target of 90 per cent which assures good community-wide disease protection.
Dr Emil Djakic, chair of the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN), said the drop-off in immunisation was expected to continue along with a corresponding increase in potentially deadly diseases.
"Immunisation rates among four-year-olds have reduced to about 83 per cent ... and they are likely to continue to drop," Dr Djakic said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The risk to community is high", he said pointing to a pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic last year that led to the death of three children and severe illness for many more.
Australia's regime of childhood vaccinations prevent the spread of pertussis along with diphtheria, tetanus, polio, mumps and rubella.
Children not vaccinated also pose the threat of passing on the illnesses to adults at additional risk - particularly pregnant women, older or obese people and the indigenous.
"These illnesses are often much worse for adults, and adults with a chronic condition are at a high risk of serious complications," Dr Djakic said.
"These diseases are still in our community and will re-emerge and strike, and strike very cruelly, and like all insurance policies there is no point looking in the drawer for it if you haven't paid it."
Dr Djakic said part of the problem was the federal government's move to end an immunisation incentive scheme, which funded GPs to set up vaccination recall and reminder systems in their practices.
The scheme ensured parents were notified about their child's need to have any outstanding injections, particularly as they reached their pre-school years.
Dr Djakic said another worrying factor was the promotion of "misinformation", often by groups on the internet, who he said were opposed to vaccinations on the basis of "very questionable data".
"There is a very active element out there parading a lot of misinformation about vaccination," he said.
"As a result it is harming the image of immunisation and directly leading to harm in Australia's children."
Dr Djakic urged parents to ensure their pre-school children have their full complement of vaccinations before the school year starts.
Swine flu also remained a concern for Australia, he said, and the return to school was likely to see a resurgence of the virus in children unless they were vaccinated.
http://www.independentweekly.com.au...-over-declining-vaccination-rate/1731075.aspx
21 Jan, 2010 04:27 PM
Australia is facing the re-emergence of diseases not seen in wide circulation for decades, with childhood vaccination rates now in a serious decline.
The nation's vaccination rate is now at a seven-year low, with 83 per cent of four year-olds covered and below the target of 90 per cent which assures good community-wide disease protection.
Dr Emil Djakic, chair of the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN), said the drop-off in immunisation was expected to continue along with a corresponding increase in potentially deadly diseases.
"Immunisation rates among four-year-olds have reduced to about 83 per cent ... and they are likely to continue to drop," Dr Djakic said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The risk to community is high", he said pointing to a pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic last year that led to the death of three children and severe illness for many more.
Australia's regime of childhood vaccinations prevent the spread of pertussis along with diphtheria, tetanus, polio, mumps and rubella.
Children not vaccinated also pose the threat of passing on the illnesses to adults at additional risk - particularly pregnant women, older or obese people and the indigenous.
"These illnesses are often much worse for adults, and adults with a chronic condition are at a high risk of serious complications," Dr Djakic said.
"These diseases are still in our community and will re-emerge and strike, and strike very cruelly, and like all insurance policies there is no point looking in the drawer for it if you haven't paid it."
Dr Djakic said part of the problem was the federal government's move to end an immunisation incentive scheme, which funded GPs to set up vaccination recall and reminder systems in their practices.
The scheme ensured parents were notified about their child's need to have any outstanding injections, particularly as they reached their pre-school years.
Dr Djakic said another worrying factor was the promotion of "misinformation", often by groups on the internet, who he said were opposed to vaccinations on the basis of "very questionable data".
"There is a very active element out there parading a lot of misinformation about vaccination," he said.
"As a result it is harming the image of immunisation and directly leading to harm in Australia's children."
Dr Djakic urged parents to ensure their pre-school children have their full complement of vaccinations before the school year starts.
Swine flu also remained a concern for Australia, he said, and the return to school was likely to see a resurgence of the virus in children unless they were vaccinated.
http://www.independentweekly.com.au...-over-declining-vaccination-rate/1731075.aspx