Australia to offer free flu vaccinations to toddlers

Canberra Feb 24 (IANS) Toddlers in the Australian state of Victoria will be offered free influenza vaccinations following a severe 2017 flu season.

Jill Hennessy Victoria s minister for health announced on Saturday that the shots will be available for children aged between six months and five years from May onwards reports Xinhua news agency.

More than 3 941 children younger than five years old were hospitalized in Victoria alone during the 2017 flu season up from 871 the previous year.

Eight-year-old Rosie Anderson died from the flu in September just a week after contracting the virus.

More than 385 000 are expected to receive the free vaccinations costing the state $2.74 million.

While the number of children who caught the flu more than quadrupled cases in the general population also rose to more than 13 000 compared to around 7 000 the previous year.

Hennessy called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to expand the National Immunization Program (NIP) to include children.

"We re ensuring kids aged under five can access a free flu vaccination before another deadly flu season starts - and we ll keep pressuring Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals to protect Victorian kids permanently " she said in a statement.

"Victorians were hit hard by last year s flu season and kids weren t immune. If Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals won t protect our kids from the threat of the flu we will."

--IANS
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