The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is calling for nationally coordinated action from all governments and health authorities to lift Australia's vaccination rates following a measles outbreak in Far North Queensland.
ACN says funding and required authorisation should be given to nurse immunisers to establish dedicated immunisation clinics with extended opening hours in community settings that are accessible to everyone, including at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, and in public spaces like libraries and shopping malls.
Twelve cases have been recorded in the far north of Queensland alone since the start of the month. Around Australia, 125 cases have been recorded so far this year – more than double last year's total of 57.
"Measles is a highly contagious disease, but it can be controlled well by vaccination," ACN Chief Nurse Frances Rice said.
"Vaccination rates have been falling nationally. In Queensland, they are below the national average.
"With school holidays almost upon us, Cairns may experience an influx of visitors, so the risk of transmission around the state is elevated."
The national target for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage is 95 per cent to achieve critical herd immunity against measles, but the latest figures show only 90.33 per cent of two-year-olds in Queensland have had the MMR vaccine.
That is below the national average of 91.38 per cent.
Queensland also lags behind the national average on fully immunised five-year-olds, with 91.9 per cent, compared with 93.27 per cent nationwide.
While there are valid concerns that vaccine hesitancy and vaccine fatigue are playing a part in families not having children vaccinated, evidence shows that a significant factor behind flagging vaccination rates is also access to vaccines. "Time-poor and busy families often struggle to find an available appointment to take their child to get vaccinated," Ms Rice said.
"It is up to governments and health authorities to make it as easy as possible for parents to take this vital preventive health step.
"Access to vaccination must be made easier, especially when people are moving around the country, including to areas where there have been disease outbreaks.
"Getting the vaccines to people rather than waiting for people to go to clinics to get vaccinated will dramatically improve access. Better deployment of nurses can make that happen.
"We commend the work being done by public health units to trace contacts, and contain the outbreak, particularly given the vulnerable and transient populations in this part of Australia," Ms Rice said.
"The longer this outbreak runs, the harder it will be to contain.
"The best protection against it is vaccination and authorities need to urgently act to boost vaccination coverage in the region.
"Nurses can help contain this outbreak. Nurses must be supported by policymakers and employers to be deployed in all settings to lift Australia's vaccination rates."
