Stay safe: Six diseases to protect yourself against
Living in WA, we're lucky to have strong protection against numerous infectious diseases, giving us a safety net that shields us from some real nasties.
But what exactly are these diseases, and why should you care?
Here's a rundown of six diseases that West Aussies can be protected from:
HPV is a highly contagious virus that can cause a range of health issues, from genital warts to certain cancers, including cervical cancer. It can be transmitted through sexual contact or even small cuts in the skin. The HPV vaccine, offered free to Year 7 students across WA, is recommended for everyone before they become sexually active. Getting vaccinated early ensures strong protection against these serious health risks.
Meningococcal disease is one you don't want to mess with. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and can lead to severe infections such as meningitis and septicaemia (a serious bloodstream infection). It spreads easily, especially in close quarters, so getting vaccinated is a no-brainer, particularly for teens and young adults. In WA, we've got vaccines for the B and ACWY strains, which offer solid protection against these life-threatening infections. The MenACWY vaccine is free for all children aged 12 months and for all Year 10 students. Catch up programs are also available for people under the age of twenty. Aboriginal children and those with medical risk conditions can also get the MenB vaccine for free.
The flu—sounds harmless, right? But influenza can be a real headache, especially for the elderly, young kids, and those with chronic health conditions. The annual flu vaccine is a must for all West Aussies aged six months and older to keep the flu at bay and is recommended to help reduce the risk of flu and its complications.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to chronic liver disease and even liver cancer. Hepatitis B is spread via blood and other bodily fluids. Examples include from mum to baby at birth or from person to person when sharing needles, sexual contact or through contact with open wounds. The hepatitis B vaccine is part of the standard immunisation schedule for infants (which is free) and is also available for adults at risk.
Whooping cough is a nasty, easily spread respiratory disease that's known for causing severe, uncontrollable coughing fits. It's particularly dangerous for infants and young children, who can have serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia, seizures, inflammation of the brain, or even death. The vaccine is given to babies, with boosters recommended for: those who have not had the vaccine in the past 10 years; parents when they are planning a pregnancy; for other adult household members, grandparents and carers of infants under 12 months of age; and for adults working with young children, especially health care and childcare workers.
Protecting the littlest West Aussies is key, and the vaccine is the best way to do it.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness known for its distinctive red rash. It spreads through airborne droplets and remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. It primarily affects the respiratory system, often leading to serious complications like pneumonia or encephalitis (brain inflammation). The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and is part of the routine immunisation schedule for children, helping to maintain community immunity and prevent outbreaks.
While the measles is not so common in Australia, it is still very prevalent in Europe and other holiday destinations. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent these serious diseases. West Aussies are encouraged to stay up to date with their immunisations to protect themselves and their community, especially if travelling overseas.
For more information about vaccination programs and to schedule your immunisations, visit the WA Health Immunisation website . Stay informed, stay protected, and keep our community safe!
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Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Perth Now
Stay safe: Six diseases to protect yourself against
Living in WA, we're lucky to have strong protection against numerous infectious diseases, giving us a safety net that shields us from some real nasties. But what exactly are these diseases, and why should you care? Here's a rundown of six diseases that West Aussies can be protected from: HPV is a highly contagious virus that can cause a range of health issues, from genital warts to certain cancers, including cervical cancer. It can be transmitted through sexual contact or even small cuts in the skin. The HPV vaccine, offered free to Year 7 students across WA, is recommended for everyone before they become sexually active. Getting vaccinated early ensures strong protection against these serious health risks. Meningococcal disease is one you don't want to mess with. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and can lead to severe infections such as meningitis and septicaemia (a serious bloodstream infection). It spreads easily, especially in close quarters, so getting vaccinated is a no-brainer, particularly for teens and young adults. In WA, we've got vaccines for the B and ACWY strains, which offer solid protection against these life-threatening infections. The MenACWY vaccine is free for all children aged 12 months and for all Year 10 students. Catch up programs are also available for people under the age of twenty. Aboriginal children and those with medical risk conditions can also get the MenB vaccine for free. The flu—sounds harmless, right? But influenza can be a real headache, especially for the elderly, young kids, and those with chronic health conditions. The annual flu vaccine is a must for all West Aussies aged six months and older to keep the flu at bay and is recommended to help reduce the risk of flu and its complications. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to chronic liver disease and even liver cancer. Hepatitis B is spread via blood and other bodily fluids. Examples include from mum to baby at birth or from person to person when sharing needles, sexual contact or through contact with open wounds. The hepatitis B vaccine is part of the standard immunisation schedule for infants (which is free) and is also available for adults at risk. Whooping cough is a nasty, easily spread respiratory disease that's known for causing severe, uncontrollable coughing fits. It's particularly dangerous for infants and young children, who can have serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia, seizures, inflammation of the brain, or even death. The vaccine is given to babies, with boosters recommended for: those who have not had the vaccine in the past 10 years; parents when they are planning a pregnancy; for other adult household members, grandparents and carers of infants under 12 months of age; and for adults working with young children, especially health care and childcare workers. Protecting the littlest West Aussies is key, and the vaccine is the best way to do it. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness known for its distinctive red rash. It spreads through airborne droplets and remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. It primarily affects the respiratory system, often leading to serious complications like pneumonia or encephalitis (brain inflammation). The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and is part of the routine immunisation schedule for children, helping to maintain community immunity and prevent outbreaks. While the measles is not so common in Australia, it is still very prevalent in Europe and other holiday destinations. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent these serious diseases. West Aussies are encouraged to stay up to date with their immunisations to protect themselves and their community, especially if travelling overseas. For more information about vaccination programs and to schedule your immunisations, visit the WA Health Immunisation website . Stay informed, stay protected, and keep our community safe!
ABC News
15-05-2025
- ABC News
Australia's childhood vaccination rates are declining, sparking fears about risk to herd immunity
Vaccination rates among children and teens have reached "critical" levels, according to experts, who are warning deaths are inevitable if Australia doesn't do more to turn around a steady decline in immunisation rates. Figures from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), released on Thursday, show a widespread decline in immunisations for a range of illnesses over the past five years. In some cases, rates are now below the threshold required to ensure herd immunity. The data includes vaccines for a wide range of diseases including whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, rotavirus, pneumococcal, polio, hepatitis B, four types of meningococcal, measles, mumps and rubella as well as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for teens. Gary Grohmann, director of the Immunisation Coalition and former consultant to the World Health Organisation, described the figures as "absolutely alarming". The figures show the proportion of children up-to-date with their immunisations by the age of 12 months had fallen from 94.8 per cent to 91.6 per cent since 2020. The percentage of those fully vaccinated by age two was down from 92.1 per cent to 89.4 per cent in the same time frame, and those who had received all required immunisations for age five fell from 94.8 per cent to 92.7 per cent. The most concerning falls were among teens where uptake of the HPV vaccine — which helps protect against cervical cancer in girls and other genital cancers in boys — has dropped from 84.9 per cent to 77.9 per cent among boys and from 86.6 per cent to 81.1 per cent among girls in five years. "When you look at the adolescent data where it's dropping well below 80 per cent that is really concerning," Dr Grohmann said. "If you're starting to get into the 80 per cent [range], then it really is getting critical. We know as virologists, microbiologists, that we do need about 95 per cent of the whole population vaccinated." Dr Grohmann was most concerned about parts of Australia where recent data revealed as few as 75 per cent of two-year-olds have had their required vaccinations. "It is a numbers game. There will be more hospitalisations. And although we have really good medical care in Australia, it could be that children will die of measles or get serious disease. "It means basically that disease spread will increase and unfortunately hospitalisations and possibly deaths to viruses like measles might also occur." The numbers have put Australia's vaccination program back to levels not seen since 2014, said Frank Beard, an associate director at the NCIRS which collated the figures. He told the ABC the drop in vaccinations undid work to boost rates that saw measles almost eliminated nationally prior to the pandemic. "It is definitely a concern that there's a decreasing trend since the pandemic," Dr Beard said. "Herd protection is always a concern, and particularly for diseases like measles." Bruce and Ashley Langoulant have firsthand experience of the impacts of a vaccine-preventable disease. Ashley, now 35, was just six months old when she came down with meningitis brought on by pneumococcal infection. Bruce said even though it happened in 1989, he still vividly remembers rushing his baby daughter to the emergency room with seizures, a fever and a raised fontanelle. "She was almost lifeless," he said. His little girl rapidly declined over the next 24-hours. She survived but with profound intellectual and physical disability. She has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and she is deaf, non-verbal and uses a wheelchair. "I don't even know if she knows we're her parents," Bruce said. When Ashley was born there was no vaccine yet for pneumococcal. In the early 2000s when one was developed, Bruce, as chair of the Meningitis Centre Australia, was crucial to getting it listed on the National Immunisation Program. He's at a loss as to why parents wouldn't take up a free vaccine. "Ash was the unvaccinated child. We didn't have a choice and we're still living it 35 years later," he said. "Ash is in a wheelchair because she got a bacterial infection which is vaccine-preventable. "This is what happens if you don't vaccinate." For the Langoulant family Ash's experience is her legacy to the world. "She has this natural presence which is a gift," Bruce said. Dr Grohman and Dr Beard both said more widespread public health measures seen during the pandemic like vaccine clinics, mobile and pop-up clinics and after-hours clinics were needed to help increase vaccine uptake. The National Vaccination Insights project run in collaboration with NCIRS found that for about one in 10 patients, the cost of medical appointments was a barrier to getting vaccines, and just getting an appointment on time was a barrier for a similar number. A survey of 2,000 people found about six in 10 people said a hurdle for them was "feeling distressed" when thinking about vaccinating their child. General distrust of vaccines and health information continued to be barriers, as well. Of those parents with unvaccinated children, 46.7 per cent would "not feel guilty" if their child got sick with a vaccine-preventable disease and 47.9 per cent do not believe vaccines are safe for a child. "Vaccination coverage is heading in the wrong direction, and so to turn it around, we need to have a range of strategies to improve it," Dr Beard said. Dr Grohmann said medical professionals had a key role to play in educating patients particularly as more people got more medical information online and the misinformation became widespread. "It's really important that they get the message that vaccination is really important and protects the whole community. And most importantly, they're effective and safe," he said. Dr Beard said the decrease in teens getting vaccinated for HPV was also driven by a rise in school avoidance after the pandemic. "Adolescent vaccination is predominantly conducted in school settings and we know that school attendance has still been lower than it was before the pandemic," he said.
West Australian
09-05-2025
- West Australian
Ethan Stirrat: Perth doctor conquerors Marathon Murph to raise funds for his charity Hurt to Help
A Perth doctor has put his body to the test, conquering Marathon Murph in the name of charity. Ethan Stirrat took on the incredible fitness challenge in support of his charity Hurt to Help last month. Marathon Murph involves running two marathons within a day and completing almost 10,000 exercises in between each run. The 25-year-old doctor was doing it for the childhood cancer patients that his charity supports. 'I chose to do this, I chose to put myself in this position, I can stop at any time, there are a lot of people out there in worse positions that they don't have a say in,' he told Nine news. 'One of our beautiful recipients, Eliza, unfortunately lost her battle with cancer . . . we're doing this for her.' To complete the challenge Dr Stirrat ran 84.4km, completed 7176 squats, and 608 pull-ups, all while wearing a 20lb weighted vest. Dr Sirrat didn't complete the challenge without injury; he tore his rotator cuff just after the first marathon. The 21-hour event was hosted by Habitual Strength. The dedicated young doctor was celebrated by his charity on Instagram. 'Ethan Stirrat just completed the Marathon Murph—and it was more than just a brutal test of grit. He did it to raise funds for Hurt to Help, supporting families impacted by medical emergencies, domestic violence, and disasters,' they said. 'He pushed through pain so others don't have to face theirs alone.' Dr Sirrat founded the charity Hurt to Help, which provides crucial financial aid to individuals and families affected by medical issues, accidents, natural disasters, domestic violence, and other crises. 'Our mission is to build a fully transparent charity that directly connects donors with recipients, showcasing exactly where every dollar goes and the impact it makes,' the charity said on its website. Hurt to Help is an official charity partner of Run for a Reason, and it's calling on West Aussies to run with them on Sunday May 25 in support of Australians going through tough times. Ethan Stirrat will complete another treacherous fitness endeavour tomorrow, competing in the Margaret River Ultra Marathon.
