Health minister welcomes new record high for childhood immunisation rates

Childhood immunisation rates have reached a new high, with coverage for all children aged five years now at 94 per cent, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced earlier this week.

Immunisation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have increased even more, Mr Hunt said, noting that all six categories of children eligible for immunisation have made positive gains.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, the Minister said, were fully immunised by age five at a higher rate than non Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, coming in at 96 per cent.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged one and two years, coverage rates showed significant movement, with the two-year-old rate climbing to above 90 per cent for the first time since December 2014, increasing to 90.03 per cent.

“The Government is profoundly committed to immunisation, and its importance during this COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. Immunisation is an essential weapon in the fight against COVID-19” Mr Hunt said, praising immunisation for its role in saving and protecting lives.

“As the nation enters a critical stage in chasing the COVID-19 virus down, it is more vital than ever to maintain herd immunity against vaccine preventable diseases” he added.

More than $400 million of Government funding is invested in the National Immunisation Program annually, Mr Hunt said, adding that the “concerted efforts” to have Australian children immunised “are working, to the benefit of Australian children and their families.”

“I am delighted that the Government’s Childhood Immunisation Education Campaign continues to have an impact” he said, referencing the ‘on time’ vaccination message which was specifically focused on parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and Aboriginal Medical Services.

For more information about vaccinations in Australia, please see here.