What measures are being taken to address Australia's 'alarming' vaccination rates?

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An immunologist has deemed Australia’s declining vaccination rates as “very distressing” amidst governmental efforts to combat diminishing immunity.

Health Minister Mark Butler introduced a national immunisation strategy on Thursday, aiming to boost vaccine uptake and enhance community confidence.

Experts have informed SBS News that such programs are crucial for safeguarding vulnerable groups and children from diseases.

John Dwyer, an immunologist and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of NSW, expressed to SBS News that trust in vaccines has waned.

“Declining rates of vaccination, especially among children in Australia, are very distressing,” he said.

“When you look at what’s happening in the US, with the dismissal of top vaccine officials, it’s a worry. Misinformation can be spreading not only there but here as well,” Dwyer said.

United States health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced on Monday he is removing all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with new members.

Dwyer said it’s necessary for the Australian government to take a proactive approach to improve vaccination rates.

“We’ve got to counter this misinformation, which is far outweighing the good information that’s available through social media,” he said.

What are the current childhood vaccination rates?

Data from 2020 to 2024 shows a decline in the vaccination rate among children under the age of five, according to Australia’s National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.

While most children in Australia receive vaccinations, the government and experts aim for 95 per cent coverage to maintain robust community immunity.

A graph illustrates the vaccination rates among Australian children from 2020 to 2024.

Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance indicates a decline in vaccination rates for children under five between 2020 and 2024. Source: SBS News

In 2024, 91.6 per cent of one-year-olds were fully vaccinated, a drop from 94.8 per cent in 2020.

Two-year-olds were less likely to be fully vaccinated, with 89.4 per cent in 2024, a 2.7 per cent drop from 2020.

By age five, 92.7 per cent of children were vaccinated in 2024, compared to 94.9 per cent in 2020.

Fully vaccinated coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continued to decrease in 2024 at all three age milestones.

But the largest drop was recorded at 24 months of age, with coverage declining by 4.5 per cent since 2020.

A graph shows vaccination rates for First Nations children in Australia.

Vaccination coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continued to decline in 2024 across all three milestone ages — one, two and 5 years. Source: SBS News

“Australia has high vaccination rates when you look globally, but our rates have fallen alarmingly,” Dwyer said.

“This requires a positive campaign that makes people feel comfortable and yes, makes them feel a little guilty if they haven’t done the best by their child by vaccinating them.”

What’s the government’s plan?

The national immunisation strategy aims to increase vaccination uptake across Australia over the next five years by reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving access.

The plan outlines priority areas, including enhancing vaccine access in First Nations communities, strengthening the immunisation workforce, and building trust.

A data card tracking vaccination coverage among Australian children.

The government’s national immunisation strategy aims to improve vaccination uptake across Australia over the next five years by reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving access. Source: SBS News

It also lists priority groups with conditions that put them at a greater risk of contracting or experiencing severe outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases.

This includes the elderly, pregnant women and children.

James Trauer, the head of epidemiological modelling at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, told SBS News these communities, especially those who may not be eligible for certain vaccines, are the most vulnerable.

“For some infectious diseases, you are really looking to rely on vaccination coverage to totally eliminate the disease or reduce its severity,” he said.

“If your vaccination coverage falls below a certain level, you get outbreaks.”

“For lots of infectious diseases, you get substantial immunity against infection through the vaccine, and you can totally control them and even reach elimination for many infectious diseases just by reaching high enough coverage,” Trauer said.

While ‘herd immunity’ cannot “totally protect” people from some viruses, such as COVID-19, he said others, like measles, can be “eliminated” from the population.