Colac Otway immunisation rates above state average
August 20, 2020
Colac Otway Shire Development and Community Services General Manager Ian Seuren has praised families and Council staff for achieving immunisation rates above the state average for the March 2020 quarter.
“The last few months have created challenges for our Colac Otway community across many different aspects of life; it’s really pleasing to see that during that time families have continued to place importance on immunisation and protecting children from preventable diseases,” Mr Seuren said.
“More than 98 per cent of children aged up to 63 months were fully immunised at the end of the March quarter, or 68 of 69 children in that age group, which is a fantastic result.
“Data showed that 96.43 percent of children aged 12 to 15 months were fully immunised, or 54 of 56 children in that age group.
“57 of 60 children aged 24 to 27 months old in Colac Otway, or 95 per cent, were fully immunised at the end of June.
“COVID restrictions have presented some challenges for Council’s Health Protection and Maternal and Child Health staff to ensure immunisation sessions take place, however it’s great to see our team have come up with solutions to ensure we continue to offer this important service for our community.
“With the ICC stationed at COPACC, we needed to arrange a safe alternative venue for the August immunisation sessions and we were able to do this at Bluewater without significant disruption to families.
“An extra nurse is engaged to conduct a temperature check on arrival and all our immunisation staff wear full PPE for the protection of parents, carers, children and staff.
“Measures, such as spaced seating, have been put in place at both COPACC and Bluewater to ensure social distancing and hand sanitiser is available as families enter and exit the venues.
“Flu immunisation sessions over the last few months at COPACC have also been extremely busy with over 420 flu shots given to children and adults; during these sessions extra staff and nurses were engaged to manage increased numbers, reduce wait time and ensure social distancing was maintained.
“There were some difficulties in obtaining supplies of the flu vaccine due to state wide shortages earlier in the year, so I commend all involved for administering over 400 flu vaccinations to the Colac Otway community.”
The next immunisation will take place at Bluewater on Thursday 3 September between 10.30am and 11.30am.
Year 7 and Year 10 immunisations will also be conducted at Trinity College Colac on Tuesday 1 September and Colac Specialist School and Colac Secondary College on Tuesday 9 September.
Council Enquiries
(03) 5232 9400