June 8, 2017
Immunisation rates of children have risen slightly over the past three years but there are still 51 five-year-olds in the Burnett region who have no protection.
Statistics from the “My Healthy Communities” website show that in 2013-14 91.4 per cent of five-year-olds in the Burnett region were immunised.
This dropped marginally to 91.1 per cent in 2014-15 and then rose to 92.3 per cent in 2015-16.
Across the whole Darling Downs West Moreton Public Health Network area – the health area which covers the South Burnett – 94 per cent of five-year-olds were immunised, compared with a national rate of 92.9 per cent.
The report by the Federal Government’s Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released on Thursday, said the proportion of Australian children who were fully immunised continued to rise, but significant variations remained across local communities.
The report showed that 92.9 per cent of Australian five-year-olds were fully immunised in 2015–16. This was up from 90 per cent in 2011–12 but was still below the national target of 95 per cent.
“Immunisation is a safe and effective way of reducing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in the community and protecting against potentially serious health problems,” AIHW spokesperson Michael Frost said.
The report examined immunisation rates across Australia’s 31 Primary Health Network (PHN) areas. PHNs are organisations that connect health services over local geographic areas.
“The good news is that for the first time, all 31 of Australia’s PHN areas now have immunisation rates for five-year-olds above 90 per cent,” Mr Frost said.
“And the gap we see between the areas with the highest and lowest immunisation rates has started to shrink.”
However, the report shows that differences remain across areas.
The proportion of fully immunised five-year-olds was highest in western NSW and the Murrumbidgee area (NSW) at 96 per cent, while North Coast (NSW) (90 per cent), Perth North, Perth South and the Gold Coast (all 91 per cent) had the lowest rates.
“When looking at smaller areas, like postcode areas, we see much greater variation in immunisation rates, from a high of almost 100 per cent and a low of 71 per cent for fully immunised five-year-olds,” Mr Frost said.
Goondiwindi in south-western Queensland had one of the better results with 99.1 per cent of five-year-olds immunised.
“Even though the majority of Australian kids are immunised, it’s important to maintain high immunisation rates to protect the community, including vulnerable groups such as babies who are too young to receive their vaccines.”
