NCIRS experts’ concerns rise as childhood and adolescent vaccination rates continue to fall

Childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage rates in Australia decreased again in 2024, following a pattern of steady and concerning declines since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, new interim coverage data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) have revealed.

The interim data analysis confirmed that fully vaccinated coverage for children has continued to fall at all three standard age assessment milestones:

• 12 months: 2020, 94.8%; 2021, 94.2%; 2022, 93.3%; 2023, 92.8%; 2024, 91.6%
• 24 months: 2020, 92.1%; 2021, 92.1%; 2022, 91.0%; 2023, 90.8%; 2024, 89.4%
• 60 months: 2020, 94.8%; 2021, 94.0%; 2022, 93.4%; 2023, 93.3%; 2024, 92.7%.

NCIRS experts also identified greater drops in vaccination coverage in adolescents compared with children. The percentage of adolescents receiving at least one dose of human papillomavirus vaccine by 15 years of age has continued to decrease, with the greatest declines seen between 2023 and 2024:

• Girls: 2020, 86.6%; 2021, 86.2%; 2022, 85.3%; 2023, 84.2%; 2024, 81.1%
• Boys: 2020, 84.9%; 2021, 84.4%; 2022, 83.1%; 2023, 81.8%; 2024, 77.9%.

‘It is concerning that vaccination rates are continuing to decline, as delaying or missing vaccinations exposes children and adolescents to the serious risks and complications associated with multiple different vaccine-preventable diseases,’ said Associate Professor Frank Beard, Associate Director, Surveillance, Coverage, Evaluation and Social Science at NCIRS.

‘Our research shows a clear ongoing decline in vaccination coverage in children and adolescents since the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforces the critical need for strategies to address this decline,’ noted Professor Kristine Macartney, Director at NCIRS.

The National Vaccination Insights project – a collaboration between the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, NCIRS and the University of Sydney Social and Behavioural Insights in Immunisation research group – was established to actively investigate and report on vaccination barriers and drivers with the aim of informing targeted strategies to improve vaccination rates across diverse populations in Australia.

A recent national survey conducted by the project researchers found the most significant barriers to childhood vaccination parents face are practical difficulties related to not prioritising vaccination appointments, booking vaccination appointments and the costs associated with vaccinating their child.

The survey also uncovered barriers related to beliefs about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and trusting the information about vaccines provided by healthcare professionals.

A full report that includes comprehensive findings from the national survey and evidence-based strategies to address the survey-identified barriers is expected in the coming months.

This interim coverage data highlights preliminary findings from the NCIRS Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024, which will be published later in 2025.

View the interim coverage data