Australia is experiencing its worst whooping cough epidemic on record driven by a rise in cases among children as vaccination rates dip.
Councils say they were promised free use of the state’s immunisation record platform – until the Department of Health sent the bill.
The state is in the grip of its largest mpox outbreak,with 76 cases detected over the past three months,compared with just eight cases last year.
“Alarming” low vaccination rates in Queensland show the state is at risk of outbreaks of children’s diseases including tetanus,measles,mumps,rubella and whooping cough.
As we emerge from the darkest days of COVID-19,scientists are now turning their attention to what they have coined “Disease X” – an unknown,highly infectious virus that could cause the next pandemic.
Vaccination for the disease is optional and costs families up to $360 per child,but with seven cases detected this year,the outgoing chief health officer has issued a warning to doctors.
Persistent and unsubstantiated claims that linked the coronavirus vaccine to the sudden deaths of young people have been dispelled by new research.
As evidence shows COVID-19 booster shots for young,healthy people make little difference,experts are questioning whether the government should be offering them free.
Cases and hospitalisations have risen 20 per cent in the past week across the state,amid warnings about the risks of long COVID.
It’s hoped work by Queensland researchers can help prevent a devastating infection that causes heartbreaking complications,even when it isn’t fatal.
Frontline Melbourne clinicians say many of the elderly COVID patients they are now treating were vaccinated,but haven’t had a booster shot recently.