Fed: Indigenous Australian Offered Free Flu Vaccinations

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March 19, 2001

“Fed: Indigenous Australian Offered Free Flu Vaccinations” Australian Associated Press (aap.com.au) (03/16/01)

Australian health officials have launched an immunization campaign to help protect the nation’s indigenous people against influenza and pneumococcal disease.  The federally funded outreach effort will provide free vaccinations to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people age 50 and over, as well as indigenous Australians age 15 and over who suffer from heart, lung, kidney, or liver disorders, have diabetes, or are alcoholics.  According to health minister Michael Wooldridge, the incidence rate of pneumococcal disease among Aboriginal Australian adults between the ages of 15 and 59 in central Australia is 20 times that of non-indigenous Australian adults in the same category.  Both shots will be made available at Aboriginal Community controlled health services, state or territory clinics, and from general practitioners.

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