News reports often flash up a headline with little evidence in the report to back up the latest claim – such as eating a particular food to prevent a certain type of disease or disorder.  

We know parents want evidence-based information when it comes to making decisions about what’s best for their children.

We also know when it comes to vaccination research shows when parents are fully informed about the benefits they are more likely to immunise their children. 

That’s why the federal government has launched a new Get the Facts about Immunisation campaign to encourage parents and carers to get their children vaccinated. 

The campaign features Immunologist and 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer AC. Professor Frazer who shares evidence-based information about childhood immunisation to raise awareness levels about how vital it is to vaccinate from infancy. 

It’s true Australian immunisation rates are already high, with over 93 per cent of five-year-old children fully vaccinated against diseases such as whooping cough and measles.

It’s because of this strong we have seen reductions in serious disease, but there are still outbreaks, particularly in areas of low immunisation rates.

Currently some regions of the Mid-North Coast have rates as low as 88.61 per cent – which is of concern for our community, particularly for the more vulnerable. 

Vaccinations strengthen your child’s immune system against serious disease that can cause death. In Australia all vaccinations currently available have been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness and are continually monitored. 

Smallpox has been eradicated and many other diseases are close to being wiped out. So it really does come down to the more we vaccinate today the safer our next generation will be.