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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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INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.