Measles Vaccination Program to Target Adults

Thousands of adults will be offered a free measles vaccine after a dangerous surge in measles over the past year.

In a rare step targeting vaccination at adults rather than children, the WA State Government will fund indefinitely an adult measles vaccination program at a cost of almost $100,000 a year.

It will be offered to people aged between 20 and their early 50s — or those born after 1965 — who may have lost their immunity, reports Perth Now.

Older people are usually immune because they had measles as a child, while people aged under 20 already have access to free childhood vaccines.

Sixteen cases of measles have been reported this year, compared with two cases at the same time last year.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the increasing number of measles cases was linked to international travel.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of the Easter break and school holidays when many families plan to travel overseas.

“Prevention of measles is simple, so I urge anyone who is not fully immunised against measles to take advantage of this free vaccination program, especially if you are planning a trip overseas. We want to stamp out measles and prevent future outbreaks in WA.”

Let’s hope other states soon follow their lead.

Find the Latest Confirmed Measle Cases in QLD, NSW and VIC HERE.

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26 Comments

- - mom268263 said
  - 31 Oct 2020
    11:25 pm
Very good idea and appropriate call as we have the capacity to do this.

- - mom81879 said
  - 18 May 2019
    1:21 pm
What a great idea. We are so focussed on vaccinating our babies we tend to forget about ourselves. I know there are several vaccines around now that weren’t around when I was a baby. I need to get onto it and find out what I need

- - mom103920 said
  - 13 Apr 2019
    8:24 am
The news this morning said there are 92 cases Australia wide this year and its only April! I hope other states follow WA soon.

- - tessie said
  - 12 Apr 2019
    12:58 pm
I work at the hospital and had a blood test to check what I needed to be immunised against. At this stage I’m covered for everything.

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Apr 2019
    7:41 am
Yes, we were immunized as kids, but had all kids deseases and build up immunization naturally. The synthetic immunizations of now a days aren’t as good.

- - musicmum said
  - 12 Apr 2019
    1:11 am
How do they test if you are still immune? It used to be a common childhood disease and kids would build up natural immunity,now it is being replaced with a synthetic version which may or may not work. I would rather build up my own immune system that is what it is for to fight bugs, there is no proof that people who are not vaccinated carry the disease either.

- - Blossom said
  - 04 Apr 2019
    9:58 pm
Why is it only available for people born after 1965? Was there a problem with the vaccination then?
I would have thought that people born in the 50s and prior would be less likely to have been vaccinated.

- - Fiona M said
  - 31 Mar 2019
    8:29 pm
I’d be keen to find out if I had immunity or not. Would be great to see this available in other states.

- - mom245659 said
  - 31 Mar 2019
    7:52 pm
I am probably safe as I had it as a child and out of all the diseases measles was the “easiest” one to have. Chicken pox and the mumps was awful. Got my kids vaccinated against everything as it’s better than being sick and risking passing it on too little babies.

- - ozstarlett said
  - 31 Mar 2019
    5:48 pm
i think this is a good idea – especially because I work with highly vulnerable kids.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 31 Mar 2019
    3:05 pm
Excellent. I hope it is a trial in WA and it will take to the other states too!

- - nealsq said
  - 29 Mar 2019
    5:54 pm
I wish it was everywhere!

- - mom93821 said
  - 28 Mar 2019
    2:53 pm
A good program for the community – well done to the government on this initiative.

- - Ellen said
  - 28 Mar 2019
    7:50 am
Born in 1963, so fall outside of this group

- - mom206279 said
  - 28 Mar 2019
    7:35 am
It will cost them less to immunise people than deal with these outbreaks. They should make all booster shots free for adults.
- mom93821 replied
  
  29 Mar 2019 , 5:47 am
  Such a good idea! The community needs to be protected.
- - mom265671 said
  - 27 Mar 2019
    11:52 pm
Why isn’t this being carried out in all states!! Pick up your game australia

- - mom74005 said
  - 27 Mar 2019
    8:35 pm
Can never be to careful, anyone can be a carrier.

- - DaffyD said
  - 27 Mar 2019
    7:07 pm
I have to keep vaccinated for work so I agree it’s a great idea

- - mom90758 said
  - 27 Mar 2019
    7:00 pm
I had measles as a child. I will still talk about it with my GP but I don’t think I need it.
Great for WA, I agree!!

- - ashna9 said
  - 27 Mar 2019
    6:49 pm
This is probably quite a good idea.