The simplest way to keep our kids safe.

By ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PAUL MIDDLETON

Taking yourself to the doctor when sick is always stressful, but this is much worse when it is a sick child you are worried about. When you hear “it’s just a virus”, most of us would breathe a sigh of relief. No need for antibiotics, just bed rest, fluids and you can expect to be back to normal in five days.

You might be surprised to learn that some viruses are becoming more deadly. We’re seeing the rise of new or mutated super viruses causing diseases such as SARS, Bird Flu, and Swine Flu, and the return of serious viruses, like measles, that had previously been practically wiped out by childhood vaccinations. We’ve become too relaxed about viruses, and although many viruses still only need rest and fluids, it’s time that we took some of the others more seriously.

In Australia, the major enemy this flu season is a new strain of H3N2, a virus which has mutated through close contact with animals. H3N2 was the virus behind the Swine Flu pandemic in 2009, which killed 187 Australians, and 14,378 people worldwide. We’re also seeing worrying reports coming out of China about the new H7N9 virus, which has allegedly already killed 16 people. It’s very possible that cases of H7N9 have been underreported, and that the death toll is even higher.

Our best defence against viruses is vaccination. Vaccination is still a lifesaver.

Vaccination took a beating in 1990s, with the anti-MMR vaccine hysteria leading many misguided parents to decide not to vaccinate their children. Despite the fact that the “study” that sparked the hysteria was shown to be seriously misleading, and its author discredited and struck off the UK medical register, we continue to see a vocal minority of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

It’s a scary fact, but vaccination rates have fallen far below the 93% safe minimum in some of the wealthiest and some of the poorest communities in Australia. In wealthy communities, not vaccinating children is most likely a conscious decision, but in disadvantaged and remote communities, many parents lack the opportunity and resources to fully vaccinate their children. NSW Health has begun a campaign, reminding parents to “Save the Date to Vaccinate”, to try to reverse this worrying trend.

Parents who choose not to vaccinate are acting on bad science, misinformation and scare campaigns, and as an emergency physician who sees these kids later on when they are very sick, that saddens me.

All parents want the best for their children, but I urge those who have not vaccinated their children to talk to their GP, get the facts and reconsider their beliefs, to protect their children against preventable viruses that could threaten their lives.

It’s important to vaccinate babies and young children to protect them from serious diseases, but the value of those childhood vaccinations becomes even more important as kids grow up. When older children get viruses like chickenpox and measles, the symptoms and possible complications can be far more serious than they would be in younger children.

Right now, there’s a serious outbreak of measles among young people in Wales (UK), as a direct result of parents refusing to vaccinate their children when anti-MMR hysteria began in 1990s. More than 700 cases of measles have now been confirmed, the majority in the 10-14 age group, and 60 children in a very serious condition have now been hospitalised. Since the outbreak, there has been a surge in MMR vaccinations as parents struggle to protect their children, but the Welsh authorities warn that there are still 40,000 children in Wales who have not been vaccinated.

This could happen here. With an increasing number of parents having failed to vaccinate their children as infants, we now face the very real possibility of outbreak of this magnitude among older children and teenagers in Australia.

The risks are serious. When older children and teenagers get measles, the risk of complications like encephalitis and pneumonia is far higher than in early childhood. Chickenpox, mumps and rubella can also all be considerably more serious in older children and young adults.

To stop an outbreak like this from happening, all parents in Australia must vaccinate their children. Please, make sure your kids are fully vaccinated, to protect them now, and as they grow up. Remember your annual flu shots too; to protect against some of the deadly flu strains we’re beginning to see more and more. Sadly, we can’t vaccinate against every single virus, but we can keep you and your family safe from the very worst.

Associate Professor Paul Middleton is an emergency medicine specialist, author of What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick: the Essential Emergency Manual for Parents and Carers. He is also Chair of the NSW branch of the Australian Resuscitation Council and works as a Visiting Medical Officer in emergency departments of major hospitals in NSW and ACT. savinglittlelives.com.au