Australia's child vaccination success story is at risk of unraveling, and it's a wake-up call for all of us. Before the COVID pandemic, we proudly achieved a national target of 95% vaccination coverage for one-year-olds, placing us among the world's leaders in child health protection. However, post-pandemic, we've witnessed a worrying decline in vaccination rates, with some areas now barely reaching 80%.
Vaccination is not just about preventing illnesses like measles, mumps, and whooping cough; it's about safeguarding our children's health and future. These diseases can cause severe pain, hospitalization, and even be life-threatening, leaving children with long-term health issues. But here's where it gets controversial: despite the proven benefits, vaccination rates are dropping, and we're seeing a rise in preventable diseases.
The risks are very real. Whooping cough notifications are at their highest in 35 years, and measles exposure sites have been reported in Sydney and regional New South Wales, including hospitals and schools. We don't want Australia to follow the path of other countries like the US and Canada, where measles outbreaks have led to hospitalizations and the loss of elimination status. An outbreak in London is a stark reminder of the potential consequences.
So, why is vaccination so important? By vaccinating our children, we're not only protecting them but also achieving herd immunity. This means that when 95% of children are vaccinated, even highly infectious diseases like measles find it difficult to spread, thus protecting both the vaccinated and unvaccinated. It's a community effort, and every child counts.
Unfortunately, Australia is sliding backwards. Grattan Institute analysis reveals an unprecedented decline in the proportion of fully vaccinated one-year-olds over the past five years. In the year to September 2025, only 92% of one-year-olds were fully vaccinated, compared to 95% in 2020. Many parts of Australia are now well below national targets, with just 18% of regions and suburbs achieving the one-year-old vaccination goal, down from 56% five years ago.
Some areas are falling further behind, with the biggest declines seen in regions where children were already more vulnerable. For example, in Bankstown, Sydney, vaccination rates dropped from 92.2% to 84.8%, and in Keilor, Melbourne, they fell from 95.8% to 88.8%. These declines are not isolated; every state has areas with sharp falls, and almost no area has recorded an increase.
The decline in vaccination rates is not due to a single factor. A major survey suggests a combination of psychological barriers, such as misinformation and a lack of trust in vaccines, and practical barriers, like difficulty accessing appointments. Among parents with unvaccinated children, almost half don't believe vaccines are safe, and one in four parents with partially vaccinated children struggle to get timely appointments.
Australia's federal and state governments have recognized the problem and are developing a national vaccination strategy. This strategy aims to build trust in vaccines, strengthen the immunisation workforce, use data effectively, and increase accountability. However, the true test will be the upcoming federal and state government budgets. New investments are needed to turn this strategy into decisive action.
The investments should cover a wide range of areas, including public advertising, combating misinformation, modernizing data systems, and delivering vaccinations in more accessible places like workplaces and community centers. Crucially, tougher targets are required to prevent some communities from falling further behind, and funding should be provided for local efforts tailored to specific needs.
Australia has achieved ambitious vaccination targets before, but getting back to pre-pandemic levels will be a challenging task. Governments must step up, redouble their efforts, and protect Australia's children. It's time to act and ensure that Australia's child vaccination success story continues.
