26 AugRCH Poll Report finds one in five parents delaying vaccinations due to COVID fears
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne have released a supplementary report to their National Child Health Poll titled Routine childhood vaccination: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic details the impact of the pandemic on the uptake of routine childhood vaccination in children under five years. The study found that almost half of children aged less than five years were due a vaccine in the period between March and June 2020. One in five (20%) of these children had the vaccine delayed by a parent or carer. The main reason given by parents for delaying vaccination was concern about themselves or their child catching COVID-19 at a healthcare service, or on the way travelling to the health care service.
RCH say that, the pandemic continues, particularly in Victoria with extended Stay-At-Home directions in place, it is vital to effectively communicate with parents about the importance of maintaining up-to-date routine vaccinations and providing adequate reassurance that health care services are safe. Innovative models of care also need to be considered to overcome barriers to access.
This week, the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne have now introduced a drive-thru immunisation as an innovative way to continue to safely provide routine vaccines to children during the pandemic.
You can read more about the RCH Poll at http://www.rchpoll.org.au
