Australia once had an enviable reputation on childhood vaccination rates, but an increase in misinformation is putting immunity at risk. Aleisha Orr reports.
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Australia the nation achieved a record-high childhood vaccination rate. But now, the situation has shifted significantly.
Instead of increasing, immunisation rates have declined as doctors’ advice is increasingly challenged or dismissed.
Fuelling the rise in vaccine hesitancy is a surge in misinformation online, a mistrust in medicine and changes to vaccine policies in other countries. ...
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Australia the nation achieved a record-high childhood vaccination rate. But now, the situation has shifted significantly.
Instead of increasing, immunisation rates have declined as doctors’ advice is increasingly challenged or dismissed.
Fuelling the rise in vaccine hesitancy is a surge in misinformation online, a mistrust in medicine and changes to vaccine policies in other countries. ...
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