<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/14/immunisation-rates-fall-among-australias-vulnerable-as-experts-blame-pandemic-misinformation-and-practical-barriers>
"Immunisation rates are lagging in Australia’s most vulnerable populations –
the very young and old – with experts blaming practical barriers as well as the
misinformation and vaccine hesitancy that took off during the Covid-19
pandemic.
In 2020 Australia achieved a record high rate of 95.09% five-year-olds fully
immunised against infectious diseases, even surpassing the government’s target
of 95%, which provides “herd immunity”.
Between the ages of two months and five years, Australian children are supposed
to receive vaccines against viruses including hepatitis B, diphtheria, whooping
cough, meningococcal, polio, mumps, measles and rubella.
However, the latest government data shows Australian children have fallen below
that target, with only 93.93% of five-year-olds who have had all vaccines
recommended for their age, 91.24% of two-year-olds and 93.16% of one-year-olds.
The government’s data breaking down rates by primary health network also shows
certain areas have consistently lower rates. New South Wales’s north coast,
Queensland’s Gold Coast and country Western Australia’s rates are all below 90%
for one- and two-year-olds. Vaccination rates for five-year-olds in the Gold
Coast and country WA were above 90%, but not among children of that age in
NSW’s north coast.
For the coastal Richmond Valley area within the North Coast Primary Health
Network, immunisation rates are below 80% in the youngest age groups."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
