Child vax push

THE Government has announced a $5.5m investment in a new three-year vaccination awareness campaign to encourage Australian parents and carers to get their children immunised.

The intention is to ensure that all Australian children are fully vaccinated before they start school.

The campaign will specifically target areas of low vaccination rates by addressing myths and misconceptions, while explaining the benefits of childhood vaccinations for both the individual and the community.

Research shows that when people are fully informed about the benefits of vaccination, they are more likely to vaccinate, the government said, with clear, coherent and evidence-based information to be provided.

A range of advertising platforms combined with direct engagement at over 11,000 child care centres will be utilised to target parents of children aged under five years.

While Australia’s coverage is at 93%, there are still some areas where it is as low as 64%.

These pockets of low coverage pose risks to the community, especially people who cannot be immunised because they are too young or for medical reasons.

As part of the campaign, child care centres and preschools will be required to publish their vaccination coverage rates, with ‘medical reasons’ now the only allowable exemption.