The Coalition government has launched a new Get the Facts about Immunisation campaign to encourage Australian parents and carers to get their kids vaccinated.
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We know parents want evidence-based information to support decision making about childhood vaccinations, so we’re making it easier to get the facts about immunisation.
Immunisation rates in Australia are already high, with over 93 per cent of five-year-old children fully vaccinated. But there are some areas where the immunisation rate is too low. It is these areas which pose risks to the community, especially to people who can’t be vaccinated, like newborns and those with medical reasons.
The new $5.5 million campaign will reach parents in these areas through child care services and online communication channels, such as social media. Research has shown when people are fully informed about the benefits of vaccination, they are more likely to vaccinate.
This includes important facts such as: Vaccines strengthen your child’s immune system; All childhood diseases we vaccinate against can cause serious illness, including death; All vaccines available in Australia have been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness and are continually monitored; Immunisation is a safe and effective way to protect against diseases such as whooping cough and measles.
Stories of parents losing their young children to these horrible diseases are simply heartbreaking, as seen first-hand through the ordeals of the Hughes and McCaffery families, who shared their heart breaking stories as part of the campaign.
Riley Hughes and Dana McCaffery were both only a month old when they died of a vaccine-preventable disease. They were both too young to be vaccinated, so like all other newborns, relied on the rest of the community being vaccinated to offer protection.
You can find out more information about the campaign by visiting immunisationfacts.gov.au.
