This NCIRS evaluation has found that overall, pandemic impacts on vaccination uptake in adolescents were relatively limited in Australia compared to other countries; however, the number of adolescent vaccinations given in 2020 and 2021 was lower than in 2019. 

The Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) Network and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) conducted a study to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years until August 2022. The study findings suggest there have been high rates of infection in children and adolescents of all ages across Australia, including those whose parents had not suspected infection and in vaccinated children.

This report summarises the reflections from an online forum convened by COSSI and NCIRS, and supported by the Australian Government Department of Health, on 3 March 2022. The forum, titled ‘Increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children aged 5-11 years: behavioural insights from the field’ aimed to identify the drivers of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years and discuss strategies for increasing coverage.