The latest Q fever announcement from the NSW Minister for Health, the Hon Brad Hazzard MP, demonstrates that NSW is taking the lead on protecting our agricultural industries and rural communities from this all too common disease.
Along with a previously announced $200,000 for community awareness and $75,000 for upskilling general practitioners, the NSW Government is allocating $200,000 in funding for developing a new vaccine against Q fever.
The new vaccine will hopefully eliminate the need for pre-screening prior to being vaccinated against Q fever. It would reduce the risk of adverse reactions and enable more GPs to be able to administer the vaccine.
If a new vaccine is commercialised, we expect it will reduce costs and make it much more affordable to protect yourself against Q fever.
But we don’t want people to wait to get vaccinated, and those who look to protect themselves, their families and their staff now shouldn’t be at a financial disadvantage. The research is still in early stages, but the risk of contracting Q fever is as real as ever.
NSW Farmers calls on both State and Federal Governments to bridge the gap between the current vaccine and any new developments. We continue to seek funding from governments for Q fever clinics to ensure everyone can afford to get vaccinated.
A number of NSW Farmers branches have been organising clinics in their local communities. If you are interested in holding a clinic in your community, get in touch with your local NSW Farmers branch or regional services manager. NSW Health has produced factsheets for farmers and the community on Q fever, including details on how you can reduce the risk on your farm. To learn more, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/qfever.
- NSW Farmers’ Q fever spokesperson Alexandra Bunton
