SA parents urged against jab complacency

Adelaide's northeastern suburbs have some of the highest child vaccination rates in Australia while wealthier suburbs have some of the lowest.

Health authorities have urged parents not to become complacent about vaccinating their children as a report reveals varying immunisation rates across Adelaide suburbs.

Children in Adelaide's northeast have the second-highest vaccination rates in Australia, the National Health Performance Authority says.

More than 98 per cent of one-year-olds in Fairview Park, Surrey Downs and Yatala Vale were immunised in 2014-15.

But Glenelg, in Adelaide's west, had some of the nation's lowest vaccination rates of just over 82 per cent.

"There's always going to be some variation, but it is disappointing that some of the well-to-do suburbs are not doing as well as some other suburbs," SA Health chief medical officer Paddy Phillips told ABC radio on Thursday.

"I think it really is important that people realise the value of immunisations and protecting their children and that will help to protect the community."

Immunisation rates for Aboriginal children have risen by almost 10 per cent in Adelaide and 7.7 per cent across the state.

Almost 85,000 babies and small children across Australia were not immunised in 2014-15.

More than 1200 post codes did not meet the national child vaccination target of 95 per cent.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
SA parents urged against jab complacency | SBS News