Momtezuma Tuatara
07-03-10, 12:27 PM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/vaccination-ball-dropped/story-e6frg8y6-1225837153968
Vaccination ball dropped
AT THE COALFACE: Sheilagh Cronin
From: The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/)
March 06, 2010 12:00AM
WHEN I came to Australia to work as a general practitioner in 1985, I was surprised at how disorganised the childhood immunisation program was.
All this changed under federal health minister Michael Wooldridge. GPs were given improved access to vaccines and financial support to employ nurses and equipment.
Immunisation rates increased to more than 80 per cent for four to six-year-old children in most of Australia.
Sadly, this record is slipping thanks to factors such as parental complacency or fear stoked by unfounded claims about the hazards of vaccines.
I'm perplexed by parents who haven't immunised their children. When I ask if they're concerned for their children's safety and the dangers of, say, tetanus, I'm met with a blank stare. What if their child gets whooping cough and infects a newborn in a supermarket? Not their problem, it seems.
Immunisation rates are about to get worse with the federal government's baffling decision to cut immunisation support payments to general practices.
Parents will continue to receive payment but GPs, who must pay practice nurses and buy vaccine fridges, will have their funding reduced. At a rural medical conference in 2008, senator Jan McLucas said, "We don't think it will be problem."
Really? We shall see.
Sheilagh Cronin is in linked general practices at Montville and Cloncurry, Queensland, and is a foundation member of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Health professionals, send 250-word comments, concerns to healthissues@theaustralian.com.au (healthissues@theaustralian.com.au)
(http://www.theaustralian.com.au/help/textsize/)
Vaccination ball dropped
AT THE COALFACE: Sheilagh Cronin
From: The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/)
March 06, 2010 12:00AM
WHEN I came to Australia to work as a general practitioner in 1985, I was surprised at how disorganised the childhood immunisation program was.
All this changed under federal health minister Michael Wooldridge. GPs were given improved access to vaccines and financial support to employ nurses and equipment.
Immunisation rates increased to more than 80 per cent for four to six-year-old children in most of Australia.
Sadly, this record is slipping thanks to factors such as parental complacency or fear stoked by unfounded claims about the hazards of vaccines.
I'm perplexed by parents who haven't immunised their children. When I ask if they're concerned for their children's safety and the dangers of, say, tetanus, I'm met with a blank stare. What if their child gets whooping cough and infects a newborn in a supermarket? Not their problem, it seems.
Immunisation rates are about to get worse with the federal government's baffling decision to cut immunisation support payments to general practices.
Parents will continue to receive payment but GPs, who must pay practice nurses and buy vaccine fridges, will have their funding reduced. At a rural medical conference in 2008, senator Jan McLucas said, "We don't think it will be problem."
Really? We shall see.
Sheilagh Cronin is in linked general practices at Montville and Cloncurry, Queensland, and is a foundation member of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Health professionals, send 250-word comments, concerns to healthissues@theaustralian.com.au (healthissues@theaustralian.com.au)
(http://www.theaustralian.com.au/help/textsize/)