January 20, 2017
The Darling Downs Public Health Unit is urging South Burnett parents to make sure their children are vaccinated this year.
Dr Penny Hutchinson said the thought of a child getting whooping cough, diphtheria or tetanus – or contracting cancer from the human papillomavirus – would be high on the list of a parent’s worst nightmares.
She said this is why the Queensland School Immunisation Program allowed Year 7 students to be vaccinated through their school for free.
“When school starts, parents can expect their children to bring home consent forms to allow participation in the School Immunisation Program,” Dr Hutchinson said.
“The SIP offers all Year 7 students free vaccinations to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough).”
Dr Hutchinson said preventable diseases could have serious effects, so the best way to protect children was to make sure that their vaccinations were up to date.
“If parents with children in Year 7 have not seen the consent forms they should contact their school or visit www.qld.gov.au/vaccinate for more for information,” she said.
