MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SAY VACCINES STILL VITALLY IMPORTANT

BY CONRAD MACLEAN

Credit: Envato Elements.

Leading medical health professionals have warned that vaccines continue to be vital despite complacency from the public. 

Australian Medical Association WA President Mark Duncan Smith said Covid was still a threat, and encouraged people to maintain their vaccination regimes. 

“Covid hasn’t gone away, it has just taken a holiday and a little bit of a break. Covid is still out there waiting in the wings ready to come back,” he said.

“We have seen a significant increase in the number of Covid cases over the last month, but it is still there. It is still hanging around.

“We have got over 200 people in hospital currently in Perth with Covid. It is still causing significant disease and killing people.

“I would encourage everybody out there to maintain their Covid status up to date.”

Gastroenterological Society of Australia president Ben Deveraux said vaccines can be important for responding to various liver diseases which disproportionately impact Indigenous populations. 

“Liver disease is a significant issue in the Indigenous population for sure. Certainly vaccines are important for hepatitis B and C,” he said.