Cape York, Torres Strait, and Northern Peninsula Area parents and vulnerable people are being urged to take up the pneumococcal vaccine with 6 cases of pneumococcal disease already reported in the region so far this year.
The region recorded 8 cases in 2022 and 5 in 2021.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Public Health Medical Officer Dr Allison Hempenstall said anyone who wanted to protect themselves or their children against pneumococcal disease should talk to their vaccination provider or local primary health care centre about getting vaccinated.
She said the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommended pneumococcal vaccination for specific groups including:
- routine vaccination in infants and children
- non-Indigenous adults aged 70 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 years and over
- children, adolescents, and adults with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease.
2 types of pneumococcal vaccine are free under the National Immunisation Program for different age groups and circumstances:
- Children at 2, 4 and 12 months of age (3 doses in total)
- an extra dose at 6 months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, or South Australia, in addition to the 3 doses for all children (4 doses in total)
- children under 12 months who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting serious pneumococcal disease (6 doses in total over a number of years)
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or over (3 doses in total)
- all non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 70 years or over (1 dose)
- all people 12 months and over who have who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting serious pneumococcal disease (3 doses in total).
Dr Hempenstall said pneumococcal disease was caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as the pneumococcus).
“These bacteria are commonly carried in the nose and throat without causing any health problems,’’ she said.
“They are easily spread by coughing or sneezing. Sometimes, when people get this bacterium, they go on to develop disease.
“There are several strains of the bacteria, some of which are more likely than others to cause disease.
“The serious diseases they can cause include meningitis, (infection of the covering of the brain), septicaemia (blood infection) and pneumonia.
“These diseases most commonly affect children aged under two years and people aged over 65 years, but vaccination can help protect you against the disease.’’