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March 24, 2017An unimmunised 7-year-old girl has been hospitalised with tetanus and it is a reminder to all parents to speak with their GPs about vaccination, AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum said.
“For people worried about immunisation, vaccines are very safe and they prevent potentially deadly diseases like tetanus.
“And for people who aren’t sure how long it’s been since their children were last vaccinated, please check,” Prof Frankum said.
The DTPa vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) is given at ages two, four and six months, with booster doses at 18 months, four years, and 10-15 years.
“Parents with concerns about vaccines should talk to their GP and get reliable, evidenced-backed advice.
“Unlike vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, tetanus is not contagious between people but, instead, enters the body through cuts and wounds.
“The bacteria that causes this disease is still present in Australia, despite most of the populations’ immunity to it.
“No amount of healthy living or avoiding people who are sick will prevent an unimmunised person from contracting this disease if the tetanus-causing bacteria gets into a cut,” Prof Frankum said.
“Talk to your doctor and if there isn’t a medical reason for you or your child not to be immunised, you should be vaccinated and so should they.
“The diseases vaccines prevent are potentially deadly and the cost to prevent them is so much less than the cost of treatment.
“And this is completely ignoring the potential they have to wreak havoc on people’s lives and those of their families.
“Especially in severe cases of diseases like tetanus,” Prof Frankum said.
Reliable immunisation advice on the Internet
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance: http://www.ncirs.edu.au/
The Australian Academy of Science: https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/science-booklets/science-immunisation
Chain of Protection: http://www.thechainofprotection.org/
NSW Ministry of Health: http://www.immunisation.health.nsw.gov.au/#why
The Australian Immunisation Handbook: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home
Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955