Queensland vaccination rates plummet to shocking new lows

Queensland vaccination rates have plummeted to levels not seen in decades, with fears of a return of killer illnesses sparking a new health strategy to combat jab hesitancy. SEARCH YOUR AREA

• Editor: Drop in vaccination a casualty of Covid

Queensland vaccination rates have plummeted to shocking lows not seen for decades, with just 80 per cent of children fully vaccinated for deadly diseases in some parts of the state.

There are fears there could be a widespread return of killer illnesses such as polio, tetanus and whooping cough if vaccination rates in children continue to drop, infectious disease experts warn.

And Queensland’s Chief Health Officer John Gerrard has revealed a new strategy to combat vaccine hesitancy and fatigue is scheduled to be released later this year.

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The Gold Coast Hinterland and areas of the Sunshine Coast are hitting around 80 per cent vaccination rates for polio, a paralysing virus that can turn fatal. The nation maintains an aspirational target of 95 per cent of children to be fully vaccinated.

Griffith University infectious disease expert Professor Nigel McMillan. Pictured Supplied

DTP immunisation, which covers diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) is equally low in these areas, hitting close to 80 per cent.

“If vaccination rates continue to fall in some areas, it is certainly opening the door to a return of these diseases,” Griffith University infectious disease expert Professor Nigel McMillan said.

“We know that the north Coast, Gold Coast and Wide Bay areas have some of the lowest rates of DTP vaccinations in country.”

There has already been a surge in whooping cough this year, with 7010 cases to date.

The average number from the years 2019 to 2023 was 250.

Dr Gerrard said the concerning downward trend in childhood vaccination rates began at the end of the public health response to Covid.

“This is being seen not only in Queensland but across Australia and internationally,” he said.

“There is vaccination fatigue and vaccine hesitancy throughout the developed world. It is my responsibility to ensure people have the facts when they make healthcare decisions.”

Dr Gerrard said immunisation saved lives and kept Queenslanders safe from preventable infectious diseases.

“To directly combat vaccine hesitancy and fatigue, we are working on a strategic and targeted approach that will be outlined in a new Immunisation Strategy for Queensland which is scheduled to be released late-2024,” he said.

Pimpama’s Melissa Pearce, with children Magnolia, 1, and Sofia, 2, says vaccination was a priorit. Picture: Adam Head

Professor Robert Booy from the National Centre for Immunisation Research told The Saturday Courier-Mail that overall, polio was well under control across Australia but that the vaccination rates in children of 80 per cent was starting to get concerning.

“There is a risk in the pockets of Queensland where vaccination against polio is low that susceptible children could be infected. We have seen polio return to countries but the immunisation rates have been must lower than this,” Prof Booy said.

Polio immunisations for one-year-old children in Noosa fell by more than 12 per cent between 2020 and 2023 and by more than 9 per cent for five-year-olds in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

In Gympie-Cooloola the rate fell by almost 8 per cent for one-year-olds, while there was 5  per cent slide across different age groups in the Gladstone, Nambour-Pomona, Sunshine Coast, Southport, Coolangatta, and Outback – South regions.

Prof Booy, a pediatrician and infectious disease expert, said that the most common reason for people not vaccinating their children is hesitancy.

“Then we have the flat deniers. Generally they are five per cent of the population but that can rise to 25 per cent in certain areas,” he said.

Prof McMillan adds another category to the non-immunisers.

“They are what I call the well-off misinformed. They gather their vaccine information from the internet and get caught up in theories. I have no problem with people questioning vaccines but they should get their information from the right places,” he said.

Professor Robert Booy says some parents are hesitant, while others are “flat deniers”.

The latest budget papers show declining vaccination rates across the country and targets have not been met in any age group under five.

For Melissa Pearce from Pimpama, immunising her children was a priority.

“I have a one-year-old and a two-year-old who were both born premature. I have spent a fair bit of time in special care nurseries so I feel it is my responsibility to keep them protected from viruses and disease,” Ms Pearce said.

“I have a very good GP who keeps me informed about protecting my children.”