Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 2:58:19 to 3:00:31
Examination of declining Gardasil vaccination rates for both males and females in recent years and the potential long-term health implications for cervical cancer eradication.
Topics: Health, Public safety
Speakers: Senator Anne Ruston, Prof Michael Kidd, Speaker 17, Unknown Speaker
Gardil at the moment? um for 2526 for females 79.55% and for males 76.52%.
>> Okay. And is um have we seen a what's the trend on those vaccination rates of recent years?
>> Uh yes. Uh since 23 24 they have been declining.
>> Okay. Um from what was the um the high the peak of the um vaccine rate? Uh the
rate I've got in front of me for 2324 was 84.75% for females and 82.03% for males.
>> Okay. Um a do you have the expertise to advise on um at what point does the vaccination rate drop below a level that would be um of grave concern? Um in terms of you know we've we've almost eradicated this type of cancer in Australia amongst women. Um, is there a concern that this declining vaccination rate could have long-term implications in terms of um, returning to a time when we did see a lot more cervical cancer?
>> Um, Senator, I don't have the expertise for that, but I might throw to Professor Kidd who might have some comments.
>> Thanks, Senator. Um, so declining vaccination rates uh, with any of our vaccine uh, programs are a concern. uh as I know you're very aware as numbers uh decline eventually uh you reach a point uh where you lose some of the protection with large uh percentage of the population uh being covered uh by the vaccine. I don't have specific figures on the cervical cancer vaccine as to what level um that would go down. As as you're aware, it's a more recent uh vaccine and and levels have been going up uh uh over time rather than seeing um trends uh up and down over time.
>> Yeah, sure. I ju just be interested because obviously it's a great great success story.
>> It's a great success story.
>> Yes, sure. Um, I've just got some questions in relation to um um mental