Doctor Steven Donohue, Director of the Townsville and Mount Isa Health Units said people in the North West are big supporters of immunisation and have achieved high rates of protecting our children in recent years.

"I think people living in the bush have a lot of common sense. They know there has been a huge amount of scientific research supporting vaccinations, both for people and for our livestock and pets," Dr Donohue said.

"They don't get distracted by rumours on the internet - that's not real research. In particular, our Indigenous communities have long memories.

"Elders can tell you about the numbers of children who died in the past from diarrhoea, measles, pneumonia and meningococcal. There are still people alive who were maimed by polio. So, they don't muck around with their children's health.

"Today our vaccination programs are better than ever and we can even protect many people from diseases like chickenpox and influenza.

"I really want to urge parents to get their kids immunised on time with their appointments, so they get protected as soon as possible."

All adults aged 65 years and older, all pregnant women, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older, and all individuals 6 months and older with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza are eligible for a free influenza vaccine.

People in North West - keep vaccinating and get on with it!

The free flu vaccination is available through North West HHS primary health care centres, as well as from other immunisation providers in the region such as private GPs and non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services.

However, while the vaccine is free for at risk groups, a consultation fee may apply at your GP.

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