THE lives of the Mallee’s youngest are safer than they were last year with a considerable jump in children aged five being vaccinated across the region.
While the area might not be protected by ‘herd immunisation’ quite yet, the area is not far off with more than 90 per cent of all children between one and five receiving their vaccinations in 2014-15.
Of all the children living in the 3585 postcode region, 90.1 per cent of them are vaccinated, complimenting the 90.9 per cent figure for two-year-olds and the 94.4 per cent stat for five-year-olds.
The statistics — compiled by the National Health Performance Authority — revealed a 3.5 per cent increase in five-year-olds, pushing them closer to being a herd at 95 per cent.
Historically the area has sat around 90 per cent for all age groups with no sudden dips over the past five years.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (February 24).
