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Council to offer free pneumococcal vaccinations

From January 2005 Wellington Shire Council will be including free pneumococcal (Prevenar) vaccinations within its comprehensive child immunisation program – as part of a nationwide crackdown on the disease.

By Wellington Shire Council - 16th December 2004 - Back to News

This Federal Government-funded vaccination is being offered through the council’s Immunisation Service. It will be available through a catch-up program aimed at children born since 1 January 2003 and will also be included in Wellington’s routine immunisation program for those aged two, four and six months.

In addition, older children less than five years of age, with certain medical risk factors, may be eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge.

Pneumococcal disease is a potential killer, particularly amongst those aged under five years. Those aged one year and under have the highest risk of contracting pneumococcal meningitis, so the earlier the immunisation is given the better.

The vaccine will be available at the council’s community immunisation sessions in Yarram, Heyfield, Maffra and Sale from January onwards, together with all other scheduled vaccinations such as for meningococcal, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B.

The first immunisation session for 2005 is on 7 January at the Yarram Service Centre.

For more information on the pneumococcal vaccine and any other immunisation please contact the council’s Environmental Health Unit on 5142 3410.

Said Wellington Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Webb: "We are pleased to be able to offer the pneumococcal vaccine free of charge as part of a concerted nationwide drive to effectively tackle this disease and as part of our comprehensive immunisation service for the local community."


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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