More Islanders opting for flu jab

Sunday 05 February 2017

A major survey carried out by Public Health shows ‘immunisation rates in Jersey remain high’ and that more Islanders are getting jabbed against diseases such as flu.

Last year more than 96% of babies completed their primary course of injections against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib, Meningococcal C and Pneumococcal disease, by 12 months of age. And more than 95% of babies were protected against rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhoea.

The figures also show 57% of primary school children in reception, years 1 and 2 were vaccinated against seasonal flu, and that 50% of adults aged over 65 also received a seasonal flu vaccine. Around 25% of pre-school children, 28% of pregnant women and 26% of those deemed at clinical risk aged 16 to 64 also received a flu vaccination.

Dr Mark Jones, Consultant Paediatrician at Jersey General Hospital, said: “I’ve seen all too often the devastation that illnesses such as meningitis or whooping cough can have on babies, children and their families. It’s heartening that the vast majority of parents in Jersey are taking the positive step of protecting their children through immunisation.”

Dr Linda Diggle, Head of Preventive Programmes, said: “We need to remember the old adage of ‘prevention being better than cure’. This is still true and we shouldn’t become complacent about the value of immunisation. We’re now facing increasing antibiotic resistance, whereby there’s a risk that some of our antibiotics may not protect us in the future; in the light of this, having the vaccinations that are offered will prevent disease from happening in the first place, keeping antibiotics for those occasions when they are really needed.”