Queensland vaccination rates lag as disease rates soar

RATES of vaccine-preventable diseases soared to a record high in Queensland last year, as immunisation rates fell short of national targets.

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RATES of vaccine-preventable diseases soared to a record high in Queensland last year, as immunisation rates fell short of national targets.

Cases of the mumps, rotavirus and chickenpox were the highest recorded in at least five years, while influenza rates were the worst in history.

More than 56,000 Queenslanders were diagnosed with influenza in 2017, dwarfing previous totals such as 23,292 cases in 2016 and 5509 in 2013.

Four hundred cases of the mumps were confirmed last year, compared with just 62 cases in 2016, and 46 in both 2015 and 2014.

Worryingly, 43 cases of the mumps have already been recorded since January, a huge increase on the same time last year when 14 cases were reported in the same period.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Bill Boyd said while it was natural to see a fluctuation in disease numbers, spikes were also a reflection on vaccination and immunisation rates.

“One of the big concerns is not enough children are being vaccinated,” Dr Boyd said.

“Vaccination rates in much of the state – including Brisbane and the Gold Coast – are still below the 95 per cent national target and until we hit that we will continue to have outbreaks of mumps and other preventable diseases.”

Dr Boyd said it was crucial the spike in preventable diseases such as the mumps, which can trigger meningitis and cause infertility and deafness, was arrested.

“Because these diseases are rarer today they are perhaps easier to disregard,” Dr Boyd said.

“However every parent needs to be aware of the risks their children face and understand what jabs their little ones need to have and when.”

A Queensland Health spokesman said vaccinations for mumps, varicella and rotavirus were included for children in the National Immunisation Program.

“We expect that the number of disease notifications will fluctuate from year to year,” he said.

“The best way for people to be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases is to ensure they are vaccinated according to the recommended schedule.”

More than 1125 cases of influenza have already been recorded since January 1 this year, above last year’s peak numbers of 1054.

“Queensland Health distributed nearly 846,000 doses of influenza vaccine to immunisation providers across Queensland under the National Immunisation Program (last year),” the spokesman said.

“To prepare for this year’s flu season, Queensland Health will provide state-funded influenza vaccine for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years.”

Cases on the increase

INFLUENZA

2017: 56093

2016: 23292

2015: 28064

2014: 17898

2013: 5509

ROTAVIRUS

2017: 2335

2016: 1277

2015: 1117

2014: 917

2013: 1176

VARICELLA

2017: 8289

2016: 7846

2015: 6873

2014: 5921

2013: 5661

MUMPS

2017: 400

2016: 62

2015: 46

2014: 46

2013: 39