NSW children die from ’preventable’ diseases

FIFTY-FOUR NSW children have likely died from diseases for which a vaccine was available, and almost half of the deaths over the past decade were considered “preventable”.

FIFTY-FOUR NSW children have likely died from diseases for which a vaccine was available, and almost half of the deaths over the past decade were considered “preventable”.

There were 23 cases ­between 2005 and 2014 in which a child’s death was deemed “preventable” or “potentially preventable”, a confronting University of Sydney study reveals. Twelve of those fatalities were due to influenza and five from meningococcal disease — the most common vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Child health experts urged more expectant mums to get their jabs in the wake of the research­, conducted for the NSW Ombudsman’s Child Death Review Team.

Doctors say anti-vaxxers have led to deaths across the state.

The Opposition said it was a “wake-up call” for the Berejiklian government.

Coupled with increased uptake of childhood influenza vaccination, maternal vaccination could reduce deaths “particularly from influenza” but also whooping cough.

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“An additional 15 deaths would be potentially preventable as of August 2016 due to immunisation recommenda­tion changes including mat­ernal­ vaccination,” the researchers wrote.

While nine babies aged two months or younger were too young to be vaccinated, it was noted their deaths “may have been preventable through maternal­ vaccination during pregnancy”.

Labor’s acting health spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk said the state government had allowed the “radical anti-vaxxer­ movement a free run at influencing mothers”.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk said the state government had allowed the “radical anti-vaxxer­ movement a free run”.

Australian Medical Association NSW president Brad Frankum said anti-vaxxers were partly responsible for the deaths

“This should never have happened and the government needs to do more to counter the deadly spin of the anti-vaxxers­,” Ms Mihailuk said.

Australian Medical Association NSW president Brad Frankum said anti-vaxxers were partly responsible for the deaths. “If they convince a ­single parent not to vaccinate their child due to their false ­information, they’re culpable in my opinion,” he said.

While influenza vaccination is recommended for all children between six months and five years of age, researchers noted it was only funded for those at higher risk and “coverage is very low”.

Chief medical officer Kerry Chant said NSW Health was working with the Ombudsman in relation to the study. Dr Chant said free influenza and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination was available to all pregnant women in NSW.

“There has been a lot of work on improving immunisation coverage and the time­liness of immunisation and NSW Health is continuing to pursue initiatives to ... avoid the tragedy of preventable deaths,” she said.

A NSW Health spokeswoman said the state continues to improve on its high childhood vaccinate rates and together with the Commonwealth the 2017-18 Budget for Immunisation in NSW is $130 million.

“Overall, rates for children fully vaccinated in NSW at five years of age are up for 87.6 per cent in 2010 (under Labor) to 93.8 per cent in 2017,” she said.

“Aboriginal children in NSW now have higher immunisation coverage than non-Aboriginal children at each national age milestone.”

Last year, the State Government funded the Meningococcal W Response Program, which offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine to secondary students in Years 11 and 12.

“In 2017, the program successfully vaccinated 58,615 Year 11 students (72 per cent) and 55,638 Year 12 students (76 per cent),” the spokeswoman said.

“NSW Health provides free federally funded influenza vaccine to all pregnant women and provides state pertussis vaccine to all pregnant women. Both these vaccines protect both the mother and the new born baby from serious illness in the early months of life.

“Our rate of testing for flu in NSW has increased 20-fold since 2010 and we now have the most sophisticated flu surveillance system in Australia.

“NSW Health continues to promote early childhood vaccination through mass media campaigns.”

Since 2013, the NSW Government has committed $5.5 million towards the Save the Date vaccination campaign. This year, it has committed $1.75 million for an immunisation campaign which will kick off in May.

“The NSW Government introduced new laws from 1 January 2018 requiring all children to be vaccinated before enrolment into preschools and early childhood centres,” the spokeswoman said.

“Following the severe 2017 influenza season, the NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard wrote to the Commonwealth Health Minister Greg Hunt suggesting that the Federal Government consider including a childhood influenza vaccination on the free immunisation schedule for under-5s”

Originally published as NSW children die from ’preventable’ diseases