Overdue vaccinations target of $26m Government scheme

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By Susan McDonald, staff

The Federal Government has unveiled a $26 million package aimed at boosting vaccination rates among children as part of next month’s budget.

The money will be spent on incentive payments for doctors who vaccinate overdue children, a national vaccination register and a communication campaign.

Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said the campaign would focus on increasing awareness but also addressing parents’ concerns.

“The communication campaign will be directed at material for doctors and there may be a portion of advertising,” Ms Ley said.

“What I will be focused on is the best way we can get the message across to parents about the effectiveness and importance of the national immunisation program.

“I believe most parents have genuine concerns about those who deliberately choose not to vaccinate their children and put the wider community at risk.

“However, it’s important parents also understand complacency presents as a much of a threat to immunisation rates and the safety of our children as conscientious objections do.”

Ms Ley also announced a new influenza vaccination would be available on Monday under the National Immunisation Program that would protect against the three most prevalent flu strains following a record flu season in Australia last year.

She said the vaccination was made available later than previous years because it was reformulated to cover a new strain, and that it was the best defence against the flu, which contributes to more than 3,000 Australian deaths annually.

“The more people who are vaccinated, the less chance the illness spreads throughout the rest of the community. This is particularly true for those Australians who are ill, vulnerable, pregnant or elderly,” she said.

“The vaccine was changed at the last minute to make sure that this additional strain was included, and that means that Australians will be protected against almost all of the flu strains they will face this winter.

“The message is simple — get your flu shot before the flu gets you this winter.”

Ms Ley said at least 166,000 children were recorded as being more than two months overdue for their vaccinations last year. This figure is in addition Australia’s 39,000 conscientious objectors.

She added that in 2014 there were approximately 68,000 influenza notifications, as compared to 28,312 in 2013 and 59,027 in 2009, the year of the swine flu epidemic.