Parents praise Govt’s decision on vaccines

The parents of a Canberra toddler who almost died from pneumococcal disease have praised a Federal Government decision to provide free vaccinations to all newborn babies and children under two.

The parents of a Canberra toddler who almost died from pneumococcal disease have praised a Federal Government decision to provide free vaccinations to all newborn babies and children under two. Jennifer Thompson says her daughter Isabella nearly died after being diagnosed with the potentially fatal illness on Anzac Day. The national vaccination program will begin next year and will cost nearly $180 million over two years.Ms Thompson says the vaccinations will save lives. “We think that’s a good thing that people now don’t have to educate themselves and find out for themselves about this disease, let alone that there’s a vaccine and how to go about getting it,” she said.(Source: ABC Health News, June 2004)