Thursday, Horn and Hammond Island residents aged 14 years and over are being encouraged to have a polio vaccination booster, following an earlier similar program on the Outer Islands.
Over the past several months, we have offered a polio booster to people aged 14 years and over on the Outer Islands as a precaution due to a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea.
We had a good response to this program, so we have decided to extend it to over 14s on Horn, Hammond and Thursday islands as an ongoing precaution due to the continuing PNG outbreak.
Polio vaccination will be available on the following dates:
- Thursday Island PHCC: Wednesday 29 October and Wednesday 5 November from 10 am to 4 pm.
- Hammond Island: at the Community Hall on Wednesday 19 November from 9 am to 2.30 pm.
- Horn Island PHCC: Tuesday and Wednesday, 25-26 November, during clinic hours from 9 am to 4 pm.
Children are routinely offered the polio vaccine as part of their recommended immunisations at the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months with a booster at 4 years of age vaccinated for polio.
This booster is being offered to people who have not had a polio vaccination during the last 10 years.
As part of this program, we are encouraging residents to check their and their children’s vaccination status and get vaccinated if they are not fully vaccinated.
We are continuing to monitor the situation in PNG.
Australia was declared polio free by the World Health Organisation in 2000 and we have had no cases of polio on Cape York, or in the Torres Strait or Northern Peninsula Area region.
There is no cure for polio.
Vaccination against polio is the most effective method of preventing the disease and stopping re-entry of the infection to Australia.
There is also an ongoing risk of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated travellers acquiring polio in countries where it is still present.
Polio is a viral infection that can in severe cases cause paralysis.
It can be transmitted from person to person as a result of poor hygiene practices and not washing hands.
Most people infected with polio will not have any symptoms. If they do, signs and symptoms may include:
- fever at start of sickness
- tired
- headache
- stiff neck and back
- tummy upset or sore
- weak in arms or legs
- paralysis – can’t move arms or legs (in severe cases).
As well as immunisation, hygiene and sanitation are the best measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Always wash your hands after changing a nappy or going to the toilet, before eating or preparing food, after playing in the yard or with animals, and after cleaning or gardening.
Read more about Poliomyelitis (polio) | Health and wellbeing on the Queensland Government website.