Queensland Health has sourced and stockpiled more than 80,000 doses of the measles vaccine as part of the Government’s latest efforts to protect the community against the potentially deadly disease.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said such a huge order was an unprecedented step for the Agency.
He said 74 people were diagnosed with measles in 2019, including 66 in South-East Queensland, in what was the State’s worst year for measles since 1997.
“There are still cases being recorded,” Mr Miles said.
“To protect Queenslanders, the Chief Health Officer has looked across the globe to source as many vaccines as possible. We now have a stockpile of vaccines to protect Queenslanders.”
Mr Miles said while Queensland Health had sufficient supplies of vaccines for children, the additional order would ensure there were enough vaccines for adults who had not previously had the recommended two shots.
“People of all ages have been affected during the current outbreak in Queensland; however, most of the patients have been adults,” he said.
“That’s why we’ve ordered extra shots to ensure our hospitals and GP clinics across the State are well stocked to fight this preventable disease.”
Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young recommended that anyone born in or after 1966 who had not had two documented doses of the vaccine, or who had not had measles, should visit their GP to get immunised.