Vaccine rates below average in Burnett children
IMMUNISATION rates for children across both the Burnett regions are slightly below the national average.
According to new data from the Federal Government, about 92.3% of one-year-olds were fully immunised in the year 2015-16. This was compared to the national rate of 93%.
The number of fully immunised two-year-olds in the Burnett sat at 89%, compared to the national average of 90.7%. About 92.3% of five-years-olds were fully immunised, compared to a national rate of 92.9%.
Despite this, rates have increased since 2013, when only 88.4% of one-year-olds and 91.4% of five-year-olds were fully immunised.
Darling Downs Public Health Unit director Dr Penny Hutchinson said the chances of risk were low.
"Given that this area includes many small rural communities with relatively small numbers of children, distributed over a large geographic area, the rates mentioned would be unlikely to pose a significant risk,” Dr Hutchinson said.
"The Darling Downs Public Health Unit is committed to improving immunisation coverage rates, with an aim to reach the national target of 95% coverage of all children aged five years and under.”
