Latest news with #DanielleMcMullen
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Australians urged to address falling vaccination rates
With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians." With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians." With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians." With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Australians urged to address falling vaccination rates
With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians."
West Australian
2 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Australians urged to address falling vaccination rates
With a marked dip in immunisation rates for flu and COVID-19, Australians are being urged to get the jab before winter sets in. Vaccine coverage for influenza sits at just 24.24 per cent nationally and 14 per cent for those under the age of 50. The take-up of COVID boosters has also dropped away significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38 per cent to 32 per cent in the past 12 months. The Australian Medical Association says people need to prioritise conversations with their GP about vaccination against both conditions as well as the similarly widespread respiratory syncytial virus, especially those at greatest Australia's RSV immunisation program has achieved a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations among infants, saving the state's health system up to $6.9 million in hospital costs. AMA President Danielle McMullen says its success highlights the power of evidence-based prevention. "These results show what's possible when we get vaccination right, with more babies being kept out of hospital because their parents chose to protect them," she said on Saturday. "The timing could not be more critical with RSV cases climbing since the start of 2025 and children under five most at risk." Dr McMullen says the drop in COVID and flu jab rates is alarming."New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," she said. "We are particularly concerned by (influenza) vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups." The national RSV prevention program offers free maternal immunisation and targeted infant protection, while annual influenza jabs provide strong protection, with more than 98 per cent of this year's circulating strains matching vaccine components."The evidence is clear, vaccines work," Dr McMullen said. "But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians."
West Australian
3 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Respiratory infections soar in WA as Australian Medical Association urges people to get COVID & flu vaccines
Rates of respiratory infections such as influenza, whooping cough and COVID have increased in WA over the past few months prompting Australia's peak medical body to urge people to get vaccinated. The Australian Medical Association wants everyone, especially those most at risk, to prioritise seeing their doctor about getting a jab highlighting new data from Western Australia that showed its RSV immunisation program targeting infants had reduced hospitalisations by more than 50 per cent. According to WA's latest statewide notifiable disease report, respiratory infections are rising, with rates of influenza and whooping cough more than doubling compared to this time last year. To date, there were 6983 influenza cases reported this year compared to 3068 in 2024, 822 whooping cough cases, compared to 171 last year, RSV sits at 1619, up from 2024's 1376. The northern hemisphere's 2024 to 25 flu season just wound up to devastating effect — in the US, 216 children died, the highest paediatric death toll in 15 years, and in the UK, influenza rates quadrupled. The WA Department of Health's virus watch revealed that three people have already died this year of influenza and one from RSV. COVID continues to plague the state as well, with wastewater concentration of the disease rising sharply in May and hospitalisations increasing to an average of 60 a day, while ICU admissions rose to two a week. AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said the success of WA's RSV immunisation program demonstrated the power of evidence-based prevention. It's estimated that the program saved the WA health system between $6.2 to $6.9 million in hospital costs and reduced hospitalisation among infants by 57 per cent. Meanwhile, vaccination rates for COVID and influenza have fallen across the board, which Ms McMullen said was 'alarming'. 'New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate, leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness,' Dr McMullen said. WA influenza vaccine coverage sits at 19 per cent, while just 12 per cent of people aged under 64 are vaccinated. 'We are particularly concerned by vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups,' Dr McMullen added. 'Meanwhile, COVID-19 booster coverage has dropped significantly in people aged 75 and over, falling from 38.2 per cent to just 32.62 per cent in the past 12 months.' Dr McMullen urged people who are worried about vaccine misinformation on social media to get expert guidance from their GP. 'The evidence is clear — vaccines work. But vaccines sitting in fridges don't save lives. We need people to pay attention, particularly parents of young children and older Australians,' Dr McMullen added.
West Australian
30-04-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Australian Medical Association criticises parties for failing to get creative for long-term Medicare reform
The Australian Medical Association has issued a report card to the major parties ahead of the Federal election, chiding them for a lack of creativity to reform an out-of-date Medicare system. The AMA 2025 Federal Election Health Report Card assessed the health policy promises of Labor, the Coalition and The Greens against its own policy wish-list, with clear indications the AMA found the major parties' proposals lacklustre. AMA president Danielle McMullen said bulk-billing incentives in general practice had been among the most significant investments across the campaign after Labor rolled out an $8.5 billion funding package to bolster Medicare in February. The Coalition quickly matched the pledge and the Greens followed suit, cementing Medicare as a key battleground in Saturday's election. 'While we expect this will improve access to health for some more vulnerable people, the opportunity to rethink and redesign our out-of-date Medicare rebate structure has been missed,' Dr McMullen said. 'We need to future proof our health system and look at what Australian patients need, which is more time with their GP. 'Our rebate system isn't structured in a way that supports GPs to provide that time.' The Labor Party and the Coalition both committed to incentives for doctors to specialise in general practice and expanding training placements, but Dr McMullen said the patchwork approach to plug workforce gaps would not cut it long-term. 'The AMA is calling for an independent workforce agency to develop evidence-based planning on workforce to ensure the medical workforce is distributed where it's needed and for more funding for the workforce incentive program so general practices can help meet the complex healthcare needs of Australia's growing and ageing population,' she said. Dr McMullen highlighted 'some good commitments in women's health' from Labor in its March budget, noting the Coalition moved quickly to match this and other commitments. One issue that set the Coalition apart was its support for a rural, regional and remote health strategy. The AMA said this would bring key issues in regional areas into focus and 'ensure they are addressed through a coordinated and evidence-based approach.' But the AMA said overwhelmingly, it was the lack of beds and prolonged ambulance ramping that was driving the crisis in hospitals across the country, with no creative solutions coming from any party. 'Whoever wins government must expedite a new (National Health Reform Agreement) with funding that supports increased capacity and improved performance,' Dr McMullen said.
