GPs are calling on the New South Wales government to urgently expand free vaccination access state-wide, including an upcoming intranasal influenza vaccine for young children.
The RACGP is calling for expanded access to vaccinations, including full funding of influenza vaccination for high-risk groups, intranasal influenza vaccines for children aged two to five years, Meningococcal B vaccines for those aged two years and under as well as 15–19-year-old groups, and funding for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for those aged over 50.
According to the NSW Health’s quarterly data on the percentage of children in NSW fully immunised, the Hunter New England Health District – which includes Gunnedah – was rated as one of the best performing in the state. The percentage of all children in NSW fully immunised at 1-5 years of age in the HNEHD was betwen 92-94 per cent. But data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance shows influenza vaccination coverage for the same age group statewide was just 24 per cent.
Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) NSW/ACT chair, Dr Rebekah Hoffman urged the government to help protect patients at a time when the NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report still lists influenza at “a high level of activity”.
“Our entire health system is under pressure, and expanding vaccine access will save lives,” she said.
“Vaccination is the best way to stop illnesses, including the flu, from spreading in our communities. The flu vaccine is free for certain patients under the National Immunisation Program, or NIP; however, that doesn’t go far enough. So, if we can vaccinate more people, particularly those at high-risk, we can help stop more patients ending up in hospital – or worse.
“We will have an intranasal flu vaccine available next year. So, funding access to this new vaccine for children aged two to five years will help relieve the stresses many parents and carers will be all to mindful of when it comes to giving small children an injection. This is a significant step forward, as young kids can be particularly vulnerable to the severe effects of the flu.
“At a time when many households are still facing high cost of living pressures, and having to make impossible decisions between buying groceries, filling up the car, or seeking healthcare – the price of any vaccine can prove a roadblock. We know what to do – let’s fund flu vaccinations for those at higher risk, as well as Meningococcal B vaccines for at-risk populations, and RSV vaccines for those aged over 50.
“In my home state, less than a quarter of kids aged under five and fewer than 60% of patients aged over 65 are vaccinated against the flu. So, for those key patient groups, we’re lagging the national average, and we must reverse this trend.”
