Experts raise concern over low vaccination rates as cases rise

ABC NEWS (Australia)

With flu cases rising and pressure mounting on hospitals, one family has decided to share their experience with influenza. Stephanie and Ian Campbell missed one flu vaccine for their daughter Millie when she was eight years old and nearly lost her to Influenza B. The Newcastle family is urging parents to never underestimate the flu and keep on top of vaccinations.

Transcript

00:00Simple morning rituals, now more precious than ever.

00:06Are you excited about going camping with Daddy?

00:08Yes.

00:09Millie is a healthy teenager now,

00:11but six years ago she got influenza B and her organs shut down.

00:15We were told to essentially say goodbye to her?

00:19Yeah.

00:20She spent six months in hospital with weeks on life support.

00:24She had missed one flu shot.

00:26Seeing how severe the flu can be,

00:30that we would really encourage anyone to go and talk to the health practitioner

00:34about getting vaccinated for the flu.

00:36Flu cases are currently rising, particularly for influenza type B.

00:40We see that the highest proportion of cases of influenza B

00:44occur in children, 5 to 19 year olds.

00:47That's concerning because it can make children particularly sick.

00:51Vaccination is definitely the best way to reduce your likelihood

00:55of hospital associated complications.

00:59But not even 30% of Australians have received their flu vaccine this year.

01:04Uptake is particularly low for children between 5 and 14.

01:08Queensland and Western Australia provide free vaccines for all residents.

01:12But elsewhere they're only free for those medically at risk,

01:16pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,

01:19kids under 5 and those 65 and over.

01:22Professor Julie Leisk says that might make parents think it's not important

01:26to vaccinate older kids.

01:28She says the federal government should make the flu vaccine free for all.

01:32Because then it will become a bit more institutionalised into our systems.

01:37It will be simpler to communicate the recommendations.

01:40The ordeal left Millie with a prosthetic leg,

01:43but fortunately she made a remarkable recovery.

01:46The Campbell family hope their story encourages others to take the flu seriously.

01:51I think we're blissfully ignorant to the fact that it can be actually a killer.

01:56An important message as we approach the winter flu peak.

01:59An important message as we look at BlueFloos'

02:11cosystems Regents.

02:14Can you leave a new student in the fall?

02:16Was wrong with ań, or?

02:17Got it, if you feel some type of likelihood yet.

02:18Yes, it could have delcile at the border.

02:21Not just since some major problems.

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