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January 08, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Parents Urged to Update Jabs"

Tasmanian Mercury (www.mercuryhobart.com) (01/07/03) P. 9; Paine, Michelle

Health officials in Tasmania have launched a special immunization program that is designed to remind parents of the importance of immunizing school-age children.  The inspiration for the campaign came from a report which said that the majority of Tasmanian primary school children do not

receive all of their vaccinations.   According to immunization officials,

93 percent of Tasmanian children up to 12 months of age receive all of their vaccinations, but the percentage drops off by the time these children reach age six, at which time less than 85 percent of children are fully immunized.  Immunization spokesperson Dr. Leann Jones says parents often misunderstand that the vaccination schedule published on the back of their baby booklets does not apply to older children, and that in most cases, parents have either forgotten that their children still need vaccinations beyond infancy, or are not aware.

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