Page 2529 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 1993
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and advice about possible side effects and any contraindications to specific vaccines. The NHMRC immunisation policy is determined by a committee of experts which continually reviews relevant literature and research on immunisation. ACT Health representatives take part in these NHMRC meetings. Vaccines on the market in Australia have been subject to exhaustive evaluation for safety and efficacy by the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. This includes all vaccines used in the ACT. This committee also reviews all drugs used in Australia in addition to vaccines.
The levels of immunisation among ACT children were measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1989-90 as part of the national health survey. The survey found that only 64.2 per cent of children between birth and four years of age were fully immunised appropriately for their age as per the NHMRC recommended schedule. However, this rate is probably an underestimate, as the information collected was based on a parent's recall of their child's immunisation history rather than documented evidence of immunisation status. In the 1989-90 survey the ACT had the highest level of fully immunised children when compared to other Australian States and Territories. However, the ACT fell well below the NHMRC 1994 target of 90 per cent coverage of children of school entry age for the vaccines on the recommended schedule.
ACT Health's 1992-93 statistics measured immunisations given during the mass immunisation programs in ACT schools. The statistics revealed a worrying trend of a decrease in the number of girls immunised against rubella between 1991 and 1993. They showed a decline from 81.7 per cent to 73 per cent. A similar decline occurred in the number of year 10 children who received their booster vaccination for diphtheria and tetanus. This went from 72.2 per cent to 56.6 per cent over the three-year period. In 1992-93 an estimated 59 per cent of ACT children had their first dose of DTP or triple antigen given at ACT Health immunisation clinics at two months of age. DTP covers diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Only 43 per cent of these children returned for their fourth dose of DTP at 18 months of age. A similar pattern occurred for oral polio vaccine, which is usually given at the same time as DTP. In 1992-93 an estimated 54 per cent of ACT children were immunised against measles, mumps and rubella at 12 months of age at ACT Health immunisation clinics.
This reduction in immunisation rates over this time was probably due to two main factors. Firstly, some parents are more likely to have their children immunised by their family doctor as the child gets older; and, secondly, increasing numbers of children fail to complete their schedule over time. This is a trend all around the country. The fact that there are regular outbreaks of measles, rubella and whooping cough in the ACT shows that ACT children are not adequately immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases. These statistics are of concern for this Government and we are implementing a number of strategies to ensure that the rates of immunisation among ACT children will reach the targets set by the NHMRC.
This Labor Government is actively involved in consultation with the Commonwealth and other States and Territories though the national immunisation strategy. The strategy aims to improve the immunisation status of all Australian children through a more coordinated and well-managed system. The national immunisation strategy will incorporate all aspects of the present immunisation program. These include, firstly, vaccine purchase.
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