Central Coast children between six months and five years old are now eligible for free flu vaccination this year, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC and Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, announced on January 23.
The $3.5m influenza vaccination program offered by the NSW Government is a response to the 2017 severe flu season.
“In 2017, our community, like many in NSW, was hit hard by the flu season,” Mr MacDonald said.
“So today’s announcement means that more than 400,000 children across the State are eligible to receive better protection, not only for them but also for their families and the wider community,” he added.
“We all know how horrendous the flu can be, and this is especially hard on the smallest members of our families”, Mr Crouch said.
“Little kids are also most likely to spread the flu, so a free flu jab will not only keep them safe but will protect others that they come into contact with.”
Minister for Health, Mr Brad Hazzard, said NSW childhood vaccination rates had increased by 6.3 percent since 2010, to 93.9 percent in 2017.
“We already have some of the best childhood vaccination rates in the country and this free flu jab will go even further to protect our little ones from potentially deadly flu infections,” Mr Hazzard said.
Children who have never had a flu vaccination will need two doses, one month apart.
The vaccine will cover four strains of influenza virus, two A strains and two B strains, likely to be circulating this winter.
Last year there were more than 12,000 confirmed cases of influenza in children under five, with many more likely to not to have been tested.
Source:
Media release, Jan 23
Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC