CONCERNS about seniors refusing to vaccinate against potential deadly diseases has played a major role in Queensland Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman’s decision to host a Vaccination Summit to address barriers to immunisation.
Vaccination is a safe and effective way for Queenslanders to protect themselves and their families from illness and disease, yet vaccination rates have been on the decline following the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Vaccination fatigue is often cited as a cause for the decline.
Only around 30% of Queenslanders get vaccinated against influenza each year.
Around 93% of Queenslanders diagnosed with influenza during this year’s flu season were not vaccinated – putting further strain on our already busy hospitals and Emergency Departments.
The Vaccination Summit will bring together preventable disease and immunisation experts, patients and families, pharmacists, and medical clinicians to discuss how best to boost vaccination rates and how to combat vaccine fatigue.
The Summit will also discuss whether the National Immunisation Program Schedule could or should be expanded, and how best to inform the public of the benefits of immunisation.
Minister for Health Fentiman said when it came to immunisation, adult Queenslanders did a great job looking after their kids, but they often forget the value of looking after themselves.
“I am concerned about declining vaccination rates and confidence. We cannot allow vaccination fatigue, conspiracy theories, and cost-of-living pressures to undermine our vaccination rates.”
“So many people have been subject to so much misinformation during and after the pandemic, and I want to know what we can do better cut through that misinformation.”
“That is why this Vaccination Summit is so important.”
“I want Queensland to be the vaccine capital of Australia, and the conversations we have in the Vaccine Summit will help drive future reform.”
