Two central Victorian shires have achieved 100 percent immunisation rate for five-year-olds during 2018, nearly five percentage points above the statewide average.
All five-year-olds in the Central Goldfields and Loddon shires were fully immunised during the twelve month period.
Australia's aim is for a 95 percent immunisation rate, to achieve herd immunity. The national immunisation rate was just below this in 2018, with 94.67 percent immunisation among five-year-olds.
Victoria-wide 95.52 percent of five year olds were immunised in 2018.
Just over 95 percent of five year olds were full immunised during 2018 in the Heathcote, Castlemaine and Kyneton statistical area according to the Department of Health.
Nearly 97 percent of five year olds were immunised in the Bendigo and Campaspe areas.
Immunisation rates were highest in the Loddon-Elmore and Maryborough-Pyrenees region for central Victoria.
More than 97 percent of five-year-olds were immunised in both areas.
The Central Goldfields Shire and the Loddon Shire overlap with these statistical areas.
Central Goldfields Shire's manager community services Jacquelyn Laurent Goeman attributed the high rate to a council run Maternal and Child Health Service, open throughout the week.
Ms Laurent Goeman said that the immunisation rate would normally be much lower in an area such as the Central Goldfields, with many vulnerably families.
"We are quite unique in that we have our maternal and child health service that gives the immunisations … that doesn’t happen in most other councils," Ms Laurent Goemans said.
"We’re able to do the key age-stage visits for maternal and child health, and immunise straight away for specific age groups. It’s just like it’s an all in one age service, that’s free for everyone in our community.
"Usually in an area like this the results would be a lot lower, low 90s perhaps."
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
