Parents urged to get free vaccine for one and two year olds

27 September 2011

A free, one-off dose of the new pneumococcal vaccine will be available from 1 October 2011 until 30 September 2012 to children aged 12-35 months (one year to almost three years old).

Victorian Chief Health Officer, Dr John Carnie said that in recent years, some strains of the pneumococcal bacteria have become more common and the vaccine has been improved to cover these as well.

The improved vaccine has been administered to all babies at their two, four and/or six month immunisations since 1 July 2011.

The purpose of the free dose for toddlers is to cover those still in the age group considered vulnerable to pneumococcal disease who received all their pneumococcal immunisations before the vaccine was updated.

Pneumococcal bacteria can cause illnesses such as middle ear infection, pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis and is most common in children under two years old.

“Immunisation with the improved vaccine can protect children from avoidable illness or death caused by the most common types of the pneumococcal bacteria,” added Dr Carnie.

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing plans to write to parents of eligible children to inform them of the program.

Parents are advised to arrange for their eligible toddler to visit their doctor or attend a council vaccination session as soon as they can before the program ends on 30 September 2012.

Further information

For more information, view the brochure produced by the Department of Health, or visit the Better Health Channel website.