Australian childhood immunisation rates go from strength to strength

Australia continues to be an immunisation nation as parents protect their children from disease at record rates.

2021 second quarter results show Australia has remained above the national immunisation target of 95% for all five-year olds at 95.18%.

This is the third consecutive quarter Australians have been above the 95% target, a fantastic achievement when compared to the rate of 74.4% in 2005 when 5-year-old immunisation rates were first recorded.

This gives Australia the herd immunity needed to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The five years old immunisation rates are also well above the estimated World Health Organization international average immunisation coverage rate of 83% in 2020, making Australia a world leading vaccination nation.

The Australian Government invests over $450 million each year though the National Immunisation Program, providing free vaccines to protect against 17 disease groups for eligible Australians, including children, adolescents, the elderly, pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Among two-year olds, the coverage rate has increased to 92.63% for the 12 months to June 2021. One-year old children have a coverage rate of 94.85%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at five years of age continue to have the highest coverage rate of any group at 97.12%.

The coverage rate for two-year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children increased to 91.96%, while the rate for one year olds is 93.36%.

Parents and carers continue to show their confidence in Australia's expert medical advice to keep their children protected and safe from life threatening illness.

I want to thank parents and carers for continuing to step up to protect their children and keep them healthy, well and safe from disease.