As vaccination levels drop in Melbourne’s inner-suburbs, risk of measles epidemics are slowly rising. In some areas, only 70 to 75% of children are being vaccinated. Areas such as St Kilda and South Melbourne are reporting disappointing rates of 80 to 85% while Yarraville, Keilor, and Eltham are scoring close to 100% vaccination levels.
To attain herd immunity and prevent diseases such as measles, a minimum vaccination rate of 95% is required.
Despite levels of such communicable diseases being low in Australia, migrants can carry infections with them that can spread quickly if herd immunity is not developed.
Declining vaccination rate have been attributed not just to “anti-vaxxer” parents, but also the inconvenience of booking an appointment with a specialist to receive the vaccine.
Tushar Goyal
Worried? Read more here
The Fiery Feed 