ACT Health has announced that immunisation rates in Canberra for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged between two and five years old have reached 100 per cent — an achievement it described as “stunning”.
Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman (pictured) said she was pleased to announce the result in NAIDOC Week.
Dr Coleman said a breakdown of the three age cohorts of one, two and five years from the latest Australian Immunisation Register quarterly reports showed that immunisations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the ACT were at 97.7 per cent for children at 12 months, compared with the national average of 92 per cent; 100 per cent for children at age two (nationally 88 per cent), and 100 per cent for children at age five (nationally 96.8 per cent).
“This result is a remarkable turnaround from the rates the ACT recorded in 2016 in which coverage for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Territory had fallen to the lowest in the country,” Dr Coleman said.
“The ACT Government strives to increase the immunisation coverage rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through a suite of activities.”
She said these included monthly reminders; postcards sent to parents to remind them about immunisations prior to their child turning two, four, six, 12 and 18 months or four years; tailored follow-up for children who are overdue; and promotional resources and information including posters and brochures.
