Geelong doctors make jab push amid World Immunisation Week

A push is underway to boost vaccine coverage across the region after people may have missed jabs amid the pandemic.

Jackie, a nurse immuniser at Barwon Health, Mercedes Grundy and baby Tiaki 6 months and Karen a nurse Picture: Mark Wilson

Medicos are urging Geelong residents to ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, as influenza cases surge.

This week is World Immunisation Week, and its theme The Big Catch-up highlights the need for people to get back on track and ensure they are protected from vaccine preventable diseases.

Barwon South West Public Health Unit infectious disease physician Callum Maggs said as winter approached, it was timely to remind adults who were due for their flu or Covid vaccination to ensure they were up to date.

Mercedes Grundy and baby Tiaki, who received his immunisations this week at Barwon Health. Picture: Mark Wilson

Greater Geelong has recorded 193 influenza cases so far this year, compared to 85 in the same time frame last year, according to health department data.

Dr Maggsurged everyone, especially parents with young children, to act now to ensure protection from vaccine-preventable disease.

“We are urging parents of young children who may have missed out on vaccinations during the pandemic to come forward and get their children’s vaccinations back on track,” he said.

“This also includes school aged children who may be due for vaccinations such as the HPV vaccination.”

In the Geelong region, 94.38 per cent of one year olds, 94.56 per cent of two year olds and 96.2 per cent of five year olds were fully immunised last year, according to federal health department data.

For the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula area, this was 93.17 per cent, 91.75 per cent and 95.88 per cent respectively.

Australia’s aspirational vaccine coverage target is 95 per cent.

“Vaccines are critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks,” Dr Maggs said.

The Barwon South West Public Health Unit will continue to offer catch-up vaccinations to schoolchildren, babies and toddlers though the Barwon Health Immunisation Service.

Immunisation lead Caroline Poynder said theteam at the Barwon Health vaccination centre in Belmont and sites at Corio and Ocean Grove offered a number of catch-up vaccination sessions to families, along with its regular vaccination schedule and flu program.

To make a booking with the Barwon Health Immunisation Service go to www.bswphu.org.au

People can also get immunisations at their GP.

Eligibility criteria applies to some vaccines.

For details go to www.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/immunisation

Originally published as Geelong doctors make jab push amid World Immunisation Week