ACT joins free kids vax club

THE Australian Capital Territory has followed Queensland, NSW and Victoria with the introduc*on of free influenza vaccina*ons for Canberra children aged between six months and five years this winter.

ACT Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris, said the free immunisa*ons would be available from GPs as well as any of the ten ACT Maternal and Child Health Immunisa*on Clinics, effec*ve from Apr 2018.

“Offering this free vaccine for children between six months and five years will ensure more people, par*cularly those at greatest risk, are protected from the flu this winter,” Fitzharris said.

She joined her interstate counterparts in urging the Federal Government to “step up to the plate and put this on the Na*onal Immunisa*on Program”.

Fitzharris said the ACT was focusing on younger children due to their higher risk of flu‐related complica*ons such as middle ear infec*ons, pneumonia and seizures.

About 25,000 ACT children will be eligible for the free vaccina*on under the new program.

Fitzharris noted that children receiving the vaccine for the first *me would require two doses at least four weeks apart.

“Given the flu season usually occurs during winter and spring, parents are urged to get their child vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available from April prior to the flu season,” she added.