Australia Urges Vaccine Checks After 240 Diphtheria Cases and 1 Death

5 articles · Updated · ABC News · May 26

At least 240 diphtheria cases and one death have prompted Australian health experts to tell people to verify their vaccination status and get boosters if records are missing.
GPs and the Australian Immunisation Register are the main ways to check coverage, but experts say an extra booster is safer than remaining unprotected when documentation cannot be found.
Five-year diphtheria boosters are advised for people living in or traveling to higher-risk areas including the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia and South Australia; adults over 50 need one if their last dose was over 10 years ago.
measles is a parallel concern, with some state cases and catch-up shots recommended for many Australians born between 1966 and 1990 who may have received only one dose.
Childhood vaccination rates have slipped since the pandemic, with full coverage at 24 months falling below 90% in 2024 for the first time since 2016, a decline experts link to outbreaks of preventable diseases.

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