On a mission to immunise
PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE
The National Immunisation Program Schedule includes free vaccines at:
Birth; Two months old; Four months old; Six months old; 12 months old; 18 months old and 4 years old
In Queensland, all children from six months to five years of age are also eligible for a free influenza vaccination.
Immunisation rates on the Gold Coast:
2016-17 All children — 1 year olds 93.1%
2016-17 All children — 2 year olds 91.2%
2016-17 All children — 5 year olds 92.2%
Latest data from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2016-17) ALARMINGLY low vaccination rates on the Gold Coast have triggered a major health immunisation campaign aimed at the city’s most vulnerable.
In response to an outbreak of the highly contagious whooping cough at Palm Beach State school last month, the Gold Coast’s Public Health Unit has ramped up its campaign to lift the city’s immunisation rate to the national target of 95 per cent.
The campaign aims to target families with children aged three months to five years of age whose immunisations are overdue, particularly in trouble spots like the Gold Coast hinterland, Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise who all have immunisation rates as low as 86.8 per cent.
As part of the renewed push, parents and carers of young children identified as overdue on the Australian Immunisation Register will also receive a phone call from 13 HEALTH to discuss the status and immunisation options.
Gold Coast Health will also run 42 free clinics from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads between this month and February next year and offer a one-off in-home service up until February 2019.
For Gold Coast mother of four Natasha Engelvaart a trip to the doctor is never hassle free, so the walk-in clinics offer a relatively painless way to keep up to date.
Ms Engelvaart’s one-yearold Noamey and 14-year-old Ashley drew the short straws on their school holiday and were both ready to catch up on their shots.
“Having a walk-in clinic you don’t need to make an appointment which makes it so much easier,” Ms Engelvaart said.
Having immigrated to the Gold Coast from the Netherlands just years ago the Pimpama resident said she was surprised to see the anti-vax movements in Australia.
“Coming from a country where it is a given I find the lower rates very surprising,” she said.
“Everyone gets immunised, we sometimes went as groups with friends together.
“Here I do see more posts on social media against vaccinations.”
Public Health physician Dr Anu Anuradha said the aim of the campaign was to boost childhood immunisation rates to stop the spread of preventable diseases.
The clinics often treat 30-150 children per session.
“We’re making immunisation as easy as possible for families through communitybased clinics,” she said.
“Our clinics often have a doctor present, don’t require an appointment and there are also extended-hours clinics for working families.”
“By immunising your children, you are protecting the most community’s most vulnerable – babies and the elderly.”
BULLETIN’S VIEW, P26