Chickenpox booster should be free due to cost of living crisis, rise in cases: AMAQ

Doctors are demanding the $55 chickenpox booster be made free amid a surge in new cases in Queensland and the cost of living crisis.

Doctors are calling for the chickenpox booster to be free under the National Immunisation Program as cases rise and the cost of living stops parents paying for the $55 jab.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton said the soaring number of cases was a worry, with thousands diagnosed in three months.

“We’re seeing rising cases of chickenpox in Queensland, which is concerning,” she said.

“Parents are doing the right thing and getting their 18-month-olds vaccinated against chickenpox – but they can’t afford the booster shot a month later.

“Being fully vaccinated not only protects children from catching chickenpox, it can protect against developing shingles later in life.

“We know there are a lot of pressures on our health system. Keeping kids out of hospital with vaccine-preventable diseases saves governments money.”

Queensland has seen a surge in chickenpox cases among children.

And with general practices around Queensland receiving their supplies of this year’s flu vaccine, the AMAQ also says it’s time for people to start booking appointments with their GPs to get their flu jab.

“Flu season has started earlier this year, with almost 4300 cases recorded so far in Queensland,” Dr Boulton said.

“We are also still seeing 3000-plus cases of Covid each week.

“This is a wake-up call to get your flu jabs and your Covid boosters. Vaccination is your best protection against getting seriously ill or even dying.

“We’ve also seen more than 3700 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and 2500 cases of chickenpox (varicella) this year. There’s no vaccine for RSV but we have a very effective vaccine for chickenpox.

“The chickenpox vaccine is given for free to children at 18 months under the National Immunisation Program, but the booster shot a month later is not covered.

“It’s no surprise that with cost of living on the increase, parents are having difficulty finding the $55 needed for the booster shot to give their child the best immunity.

“We think the booster should be included under the NIP so all parents can protect their children.

“We have also seen two cases of measles in Queensland in the past week. Infants under 12 months of age are too young to be vaccinated against measles, so we encourage everyone who can be vaccinated to get vaccinated to protect our most vulnerable.”

Originally published as Chickenpox booster should be free due to cost of living crisis, rise in cases: AMAQ