Queensland Health has registered its concern that more of today’s Queensland’s teenagers are missing out on vital vaccinations than they ever have before.
Acting Executive Director of Communicable Diseases at Queensland Health, Alun Richards said the uptake of the School Immunisation Program was still far from meeting the State target of 85 per cent of teenagers being vaccinated through the program.
“While this target is aspirational, it means there are quite a number of teenagers out there that are missing out on their school vaccinations, leaving them at risk of contracting potentially deadly diseases,” Dr Richards said.
“All Year Seven students have access to free diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, as well as a two-dose course of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine,” he said.
“Year 10 students have access to a free meningococcal ACWY vaccine.”
Dr Richards said that while COVID-19 had created disruptions to schools last year, it was important that this year vaccination was high on the priority list for kids and their parents.
He said it was free and convenient for children to have the vaccine at school, with clinics being run at all State and non-State schools.
“While some families choose to vaccinate at their local GP or immunisation clinic, coverage from the school program is below what we’d like to see across Queensland,” he said.
“That is why I’m urging parents to return the consent forms and ensure their children are protected from these awful and preventable diseases,” Dr Richards said.
