New State Government immunisation campaign to drive up Capes low vaccination rates for public health

Alarm about declining vaccinations rates — a hot issue in the Capes region — has triggered the State Government to unveil a new public health campaign.

The Times reported in May the latest worrying data showing townships from Augusta to Busselton had some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, particularly in crucial early childhood categories.

Data from the Australian Immunisation Register had the vaccination rates for two-year-olds at 82.53 per cent and one-year-olds slightly higher at 83.95 per cent.

WA Health’s figures showed the cover for two-year-olds across the Capes was 85.12 per cent, well below the State average of 91.36 per cent and the 92 per cent coverage immunologists said was needed to provide herd immunity.

Vaccination fatigue stemming from the pandemic was considered a leading cause of the slump, though Capes communities were also seen as anti-vaccination hotspots.

Unveiled by Premier Roger Cook over the weekend, the new Don’t Assume You’re Immune campaign will urge individuals and parents to update their own immunisations.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a spike in dangerous and misleading vaccine information circulating in the community,” he said.

“That’s why my Government is launching this campaign to raise awareness of the potentially life-threatening complications of vaccine-preventable diseases.

“I encourage all Western Australians to make informed decisions about immunisation and not to assume they’re immune, for the benefit of the entire community.”

When the Times reported the previous vaccination data, local GPs expressed frustration that some residents took the region’s disease-free status for granted.

Brecken Health managing director Brenda Murrison, who operates clinics in Margaret River, Busselton and Bunbury, said it was “a real concern” that levels had dropped below the minimum rate needed to protect the wider community.

“I’d encourage the parents involved to have a discussion with their healthcare provider around this so that they can make the best immunisation decisions for their children,” she said.

“Immunisation/vaccinations are important for everyone, but I do feel living in a remote/regional area makes prevention even more important. Health services are stretched enough as is.”

The new campaign also includes education material to counter what the State Government said was “misinformation” rife in the community.

The Times understands the 12-month campaign focuses on the risks to loved ones if vaccinations were not kept up to date.

The push follows an independent review of WA’s COVID-19 management that recommended intervention to combat “inaccurate and false information”.

The campaign included a new immunisation website providing endorsed information about “vaccine-preventable diseases, possible complications for those not immunised, and highlights who is most at-risk from the diseases”.

Visit immunisation.health.wa.gov.au for more.