Arabic version: مجلس تاسمانيا يدعو الدولة لإدارة برامج التطعيم في المدارس

The West Tamar Council in Tasmania is advocating for the state government to assume control of school-based immunisation programs following an incident in which a student was vaccinated without caregiver consent. West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl emphasized that this situation underscores the challenges of having local governments manage these programs.

According to ABC News, the council has reported the incident to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and stated it could not provide further details due to privacy laws. The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) is also pushing for changes to the Public Health Act 1997, which currently mandates that councils oversee immunisation programs in schools.

The West Tamar Council’s immunisation program, which vaccinates students against human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal ACWY, costs about $20,000 a year, with about $5,000 reimbursed by Tasmania’s Department of Health. Mayor Holmdahl criticized the financial burden placed on ratepayers, arguing that the state government should take responsibility and provide adequate compensation to local councils for these services.

At a recent LGAT meeting, a majority of councils expressed support for the motion to transfer responsibility to the state government. Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent has indicated a willingness to engage with councils to address their concerns regarding immunisation program management, stressing the importance of ensuring that vaccinations are carried out efficiently and properly.