montag
29-03-2007, 02:26 PM
Babies to get free jab for gastro virus
March 28, 2007 - 5:10PM
All six-month-old babies will be vaccinated against deadly rotavirus for free after the government on Wednesday approved the $124 million addition to the national immunisation program.
About 10,000 Australian children are hospitalised each year with severe diarrhoea caused by the common gastrointestinal disease.
Acting Health Minister Christopher Pyne announced the vaccine would be included on the National Immunisation Program, at a cost of $124 million over five years.
From July, the vaccine will be given in two or three oral doses to all babies born after May 1 before they are six months old.
"Rotavirus occurs more frequently in young children, with almost half of all cases occurring in babies under 12 months of age and the majority of cases occurring in children under five years of age," Mr Pyne said.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are affected much more seriously by this disease."
Two alternative rotavirus vaccines - Rotarix from GlaxoSmithKline and RotaTeq from CSL Limited - will be included on the national program.
The doses will generally be given at the same time as other immunisations at about two, four and six months of age, Mr Pyne said.
The government decision comes more than four months after the government's drug advisory committee recommended the two vaccines be included.
Health Minister Tony Abbott earlier this month told parliament negotiations with suppliers over the price of the vaccine had just been completed.
Mr Pyne said spending on immunisation had increased from $13 million a year in 1996 to $207 million a year in 2007.
Labor welcomed the decision, but criticised the delay in approval.
"The vaccine was recommended for approval by the government's own advisory body... in November last year," Opposition health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said.
"It should not have taken Tony Abbott so long to act.
"It will now be a race against the clock to make sure the vaccine is available to Aussie kids to protect them against rotavirus this winter - and keep Aussie kids out of hospital."
© 2007 AAP
March 28, 2007 - 5:10PM
All six-month-old babies will be vaccinated against deadly rotavirus for free after the government on Wednesday approved the $124 million addition to the national immunisation program.
About 10,000 Australian children are hospitalised each year with severe diarrhoea caused by the common gastrointestinal disease.
Acting Health Minister Christopher Pyne announced the vaccine would be included on the National Immunisation Program, at a cost of $124 million over five years.
From July, the vaccine will be given in two or three oral doses to all babies born after May 1 before they are six months old.
"Rotavirus occurs more frequently in young children, with almost half of all cases occurring in babies under 12 months of age and the majority of cases occurring in children under five years of age," Mr Pyne said.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are affected much more seriously by this disease."
Two alternative rotavirus vaccines - Rotarix from GlaxoSmithKline and RotaTeq from CSL Limited - will be included on the national program.
The doses will generally be given at the same time as other immunisations at about two, four and six months of age, Mr Pyne said.
The government decision comes more than four months after the government's drug advisory committee recommended the two vaccines be included.
Health Minister Tony Abbott earlier this month told parliament negotiations with suppliers over the price of the vaccine had just been completed.
Mr Pyne said spending on immunisation had increased from $13 million a year in 1996 to $207 million a year in 2007.
Labor welcomed the decision, but criticised the delay in approval.
"The vaccine was recommended for approval by the government's own advisory body... in November last year," Opposition health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said.
"It should not have taken Tony Abbott so long to act.
"It will now be a race against the clock to make sure the vaccine is available to Aussie kids to protect them against rotavirus this winter - and keep Aussie kids out of hospital."
© 2007 AAP