The Hodgman Liberal Government will fund a free measles catch up vaccination for eligible Tasmanians, on expert advice from doctors.
As soon as national supply has returned to normal levels, which is expected to be in September, the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine will be available for Tasmanians born during or after 1966 who have not received two measles containing vaccinations or had the measles infection.
Public Health experts advise that people born before 1966 are likely to be immune following childhood infection. Most people born after 1994 are likely to have received two doses of measles containing vaccines as a child, under the National Immunisation Program.
Many Tasmanians born between 1966 and 1994 will not have experienced measles or received two doses of a measles vaccine. As a result, up to 15 percent of these young to middle-aged adults may not be immune.
Due to fragmentary childhood immunisation records for many people, anyone who is unsure of their status is encouraged to receive a booster dose.
Measles is a highly infectious disease and remains endemic in some countries, meaning there is ongoing risk of imported cases from both international travellers visiting Australia and Australians returning from overseas.
More than 100 cases of measles have been reported in Australia this year, with the majority occurring in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to protecting Tasmanians, and we have had huge success in vaccination programs recently. That includes our meningococcal vaccination program, which saw record child immunisation rates in Tasmania, and our highly successful public campaigns to encourage Tasmanians to receive a flu shot.
