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Canberra Today 15°/17° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

ACT immunisation rates stay high

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MEEGAN Fitzharris today welcomed the latest National Health Performance Authority (NHPA) report on immunisation coverage rates, which shows Canberra children continue to be some of the most immunised in the country.

“Immunisation is an important feature in our health system and it is great to see that the rates of immunisation in the ACT are very high, particularly in some of the youngest age group categories,” Meegan said.

“The results in the latest NHPA report released today shows the ACT achieved high immunisation rates for all children aged one, two and five years, with coverage above 90 percent and above the national average in all three age cohorts in 2014-15.

“Canberra’s one year olds were among the most immunised in the country with 92.9 per cent coverage, which was above the national average of 91.3 per cent.

“The report also shows the ACT had the highest rate of fully immunised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander one year olds with 92.9 per cent coverage, which is also above the national average of 87.7 per cent.

“A number of Canberra’s regions and suburbs also featured in the lists of top ten immunisation rates, with Gungahlin and Belconnen featured for 1 year olds, at 94.4 per cent and 94.3 per cent respectively, and at suburb level, Fadden, Gowrie, Macarthur and Monash for most immunised postcodes, all at 98 per cent.

“I’m pleased the ACT has achieved overall high immunisation rates, but I would like to remind parents about the importance of immunisations, which have been repeatedly demonstrated to be one of the most effective interventions for protecting children from the devastating effects of vaccine preventable disease.

“While this report highlights many positive results for the ACT, there is always room for improvement, and the beginning of the school year is a good time for parents to ensure your children are up to date with all their immunisations,” said Minister Fitzharris.

Immunisation in the ACT is a collaborative effort between ACT Health, the Commonwealth Department of Health, the Capital Health Network and immunisation providers. Parents can now check their child’s immunisation records online at medicareaustralia.gov.au

For further information on immunisation in the ACT visit health.act.gov.au

[Photo by Aiden Chadwick, attribution licence]

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