New resource to improve childhood vaccination rates

The ‘Tree of community informed strategies to increase childhood vaccination rates’ resource presents practical strategies for health services to improve childhood vaccination rates in communities that may generally support vaccination, but experience socio-economic disadvantage and access barriers to immunisation services. The 'tree’ may also be used by communities to start a conversation about what makes it difficult or easy to get children vaccinated on time in their community, and advocate for changes. 

The resource is a visual summary of findings from studies conducted in five regional locations across New South Wales by researchers from the University of Newcastle in collaboration with the University of Sydney, the World Health Organization, NSW Ministry of Health and local public health units, and incorporates suggestions from immunisation stakeholders such as parents/carers, public health units and health services. The research followed the World Health Organization Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) approach and, in addition to summarising practical strategies to improve childhood vaccination rates, shows the complex relationship between broad determinants of childhood vaccination. 

Immunisation stakeholders across Australia are invited to use and adapt the ‘tree’ to their local needs, when designing tailored strategies to help more families get their children vaccinated on time. Strategies included in the tree are not meant to be exhaustive; there may be other localised strategies helpful in addressing childhood undervaccination. 

Access the resource here