Immunisation Rates High But More Work to Do

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11 April 2013

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said a new report confirmed Australia had high rates of child immunisation but highlighted the need to continue increasing immunisation rates, particularly in regions where coverage was below the national average.

The National Health Performance Authority Healthy Communities: Immunisation rates for children in 2011–12 Report, is the first publically available report providing immunisation coverage data sourced from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register.

“Immunisation is one of the most important and effective public health measures at our disposal. That is why the Gillard Government is committed to continually increasing coverage rates.”

Ms Plibersek said the landmark report found we are achieving high immunisation coverage rates at the national level, achieving at or above 90% average coverage for children at one, two and five years of age.

“The report finds there is a lot of variation in coverage rates at the local level, which indicates some children in some communities are at risk of contracting diseases such as measles and whooping cough.”

Ms Plibersek said if a sufficient number of people in the community were immunised against a disease then there is less chance a bacteria or virus causing the disease can be transmitted from person to person.

“Herd immunity leads to lower levels of the disease in the community and can even lead to the eradication of disease as occurred with smallpox.”

Ms Plibersek said the information contained in the report would assist health workers focus on areas where immunisation coverage was below average.

“The Gillard Government has already moved to strengthen its commitment to immunising Australian children by giving Medicare Locals the job of helping to promote vaccination.”

“We have also linked parents’ eligibility for some family payments to the immunisation status of their children.”
To be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement, which is $726, parents need to have their children fully immunised, meaning a child has been vaccinated against hepatitis B (Hep B), haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), poliomyelitis (polio), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella.

The government recently announced that from 1 July, Australian children will need only one needle at 18 months to be fully protected from measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

The new 10th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook, which introduces new vaccines, contains new and updated recommendations on vaccine use and outlines the importance of vaccination during pregnancy, can be ordered from the Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition website.