Immunisation and vaccination is an Australia's health topic

Immunisation is a safe and effective way to protect against harmful infectious diseases and, at the population level, prevent the spread of these diseases among the community. Several vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), such as measles, rubella and diphtheria, are now rare in Australia as a result of Australia’s high immunisation rates.

The Australian Government provides free vaccines to eligible people, including young children, older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people, pregnant women, and others who are at greater risk of serious harm from VPDs. The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides vaccines against a number of diseases, including measles, mumps, whooping cough, influenza and human papillomavirus (HPV). Additional vaccines may also be funded through state and territory programs, through the workplace or bought privately by prescription. It is important to maintain high immunisation coverage rates to ensure that these diseases cannot spread through the community.

Vaccination coverage data are derived from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The AIR is a national register that details all funded vaccinations and most privately purchased vaccines given to individuals of all ages who live in Australia. It was set up in 1996 as the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and was renamed following its expansion in 2016 to cover all ages. It is mandatory for vaccination providers to report all NIP, COVID-19, influenza, and Japanese encephalitis virus vaccinations to the AIR (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2025). 

For more information, see Infectious and communicable diseases.

The impact of vaccination in Australia

The Burden of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Australia study estimated the immediate and future burden (including premature death) of newly diagnosed cases of diseases for which vaccines are provided under the National Immunisation Program. It found that the rate of burden had decreased by nearly one-third between 2005 and 2015. The decrease was driven by falls for diseases for which vaccines had been introduced in the previous 20 years, such as HPV, pneumococcal disease and rotavirus. The rate of burden decreased considerably among infants, children, and adolescents and young adults – age groups which are the focus of national and state and territory vaccination programs (AIHW 2019).

Some vaccines may also have effects beyond the immediate and future burden of diseases for which vaccines are provided, including protective and therapeutic effects against post-acute infection conditions (Byambasuren et al. 2023).

For more information, see Vaccine-preventable diseases in Australia.

Childhood immunisation coverage

Australian children are recommended to have received specific immunisations by a certain age according to the National Immunisation Program Schedule. Fully immunised status is measured at ages 1, 2 and 5 and means that a child has received certain specific vaccine or antigen (component of vaccine) doses appropriate for their age.

What is meant by ‘fully immunised’?

Australian children are expected to have received specific immunisations by a certain age according to recommendations in the National Immunisation Program Schedule to ensure that children have maximum protection if they come into contact with harmful viruses and bacteria.

The specific vaccines included in the definition of ‘fully immunised’ may change from time to time as the recommendations under the National Immunisation Program change, or new vaccines are introduced. In 2025, the following definitions applied:

  • At 1 year, ‘fully immunised’ included vaccinations for hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal disease.
  • At 2 years, it included vaccinations for meningococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease, Hib, chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. 
  • At 5 years, it included vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.

Details of how coverage rates are calculated are provided in O’Brien et al. (1998).


The immunisation coverage rate for:

  • 1-year-olds remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2012. A slight decline in rates in 2013 and 2014 may have been due to a change in the definition of ‘fully immunised’. The coverage rates steadily increased from 92.3% in 2015 to 94.9% 2020, before declining to 92.1% in 2024. 
  • 2-year-olds increased markedly from 1999 to 2004 and remained above 90% until 2013. Changes in the definition of ‘fully immunised’ in 2014 may have contributed to the drop observed in 2015. Between 2020 and 2024, coverage dropped from 92.6% to 90.4%.
  • 5-year-olds increased from 74.4% in 2005 to 95.1% in 2020, then gradually decreased to 93.6% in 2024. Children who have had catch-up immunisations by age 5 are included as ‘fully immunised’ at this age even if they were not fully immunised when they were aged 1 or 2. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination rates have steadily declined. Research highlights several key barriers to timely and complete childhood vaccination including practical challenges, such as booking appointments and meeting costs associated with vaccination (for example, co-payments for consultations and costs related to transport in regional and remote areas), alongside concerns about vaccine safety and mistrust of healthcare information (Bolsewicz et al. 2025).

The decline has been more pronounced among First Nations children compared with other Australian children (AIHW 2024). Between 2020 and 2024, coverage for First Nations children aged 1 fell by 3.9%, compared with 2.6% for other Australian children. For ages 2 and 5, declines were 3.7% and 2.3% respectively for First Nations children, compared with 1.9% and 1.5% for other Australian children during this period. 

Over time, coverage for First Nations children aged 1 and 2 has consistently been lower than for other Australian children. In contrast, coverage for 5-year-old First Nations children has generally been higher, likely reflecting catch-up vaccinations.

For more information, see Health of children.

Figure 1: Childhood immunisation coverage rates by Indigenous status for children aged 1, 2 and 5, 1999 to 2024

The chart shows the percentage of children that are fully immunised improved between 1999 and 2020, but has since declined, though remaining above 90%. A national immunisation target has been set at 95% of all children to be fully immunised. Coverage rates for First Nations children are slightly lower than those for all children at ages 1 and 2, but higher than those for all children at age 5.

The chart shows the percentage of children that are fully immunised improved between 1999 and 2020, but has since declined, though remaining above 90%. A national immunisation target has been set at 95% of all children to be fully immunised. Coverage rates for First Nations children are slightly lower than those for all children at ages 1 and 2, but higher than those for all children at age 5.

Adolescent immunisation coverage

Adolescent vaccination is administered by state and territory health services through school vaccination programs, and includes vaccinations for HPV, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (dTpa) and meningococcal disease (types ACWY). 

HPV is a common viral infection that is sexually transmitted. HPV can cause cancers in both men and women, particularly cancer of the cervix (in females), other anogenital cancers and certain cancers of the mouth and throat (in both males and females). A national HPV vaccination program (using the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which protects against 4 types of HPV) was introduced for school-aged girls in 2007 and extended to boys in 2013. A new vaccine was introduced in 2018, protecting against 9 types of HPV. Among young people turning 15 in 2024, 81.1% of girls and 77.9% of boys had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine before their 15th birthday (NCIRS 2025). Coverage rates among First Nations adolescents were lower, with 76.7% of girls and 69.2% of boys turning 15 in 2024 having received at least one dose of HPV vaccine before their 15th birthday (NCIRS 2025).

HPV vaccination coverage has declined each year since 2020 for both girls and boys. Between 2020 and 2024, coverage dropped by 5.5% for girls and 7.0% for boys. The decline has been more pronounced among First Nations adolescents, with coverage rates declining by 11.1% for girls and 13.8% for boys over the same period. 

Among young people turning 15 in 2024, 83.4% of girls and 80.9% of boys had received an adolescent dTpa dose (NCIRS 2025). Coverage rates for First Nations adolescents were lower at 79.3% for girls and 73.0% for boys. 

In 2024, 73.4% of all adolescent girls and 69.3% of all adolescent boys compared with 63.9% of First Nations girls and 58.4% of First Nations boys turning 17 years had received a dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine (NCIRS 2025). 

For more information, see Health of young people.

Adult vaccination

Adult immunisation under the NIP provides free routine vaccines to eligible adults, focusing on key life stages and risk factors. Adults aged 65 years and over can receive the shingles (zoster) vaccine and annual influenza vaccines, with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV) also recommended. First Nations adults aged 50 years and over are eligible for pneumococcal and zoster vaccines, and First Nations people of all ages (from 6 months) are eligible for an annual influenza vaccine. 

Pregnant women are offered influenza and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines, as well as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine between 28–36 weeks gestation to protect newborns. Immunocompromised adults and those with medical risk conditions may also be eligible for additional vaccines. For more information, see National Immunisation Program schedule.

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program began in February 2021 with priority groups and expanded to all adults, teenagers, and children aged 5–11 by early 2022. The initial schedule included two doses, with extra doses for immunocompromised individuals and boosters for older and high-risk groups. By February 2023, over 95% of Australians aged 16 and over had received at least 2 doses and more than 70% had received 3 doses. About 45% of the eligible population (aged 30 and over) had received a fourth dose (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2023). As at December 2025, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice recommended annual COVID-19 booster vaccination for all adults aged 65 and over or with severe immunocompromise, with six-monthly doses for those aged 75+ and optional six-month intervals for adults 65–74 or those with severe immunocompromise. For the most up-to-date official advice and recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to the latest COVID-19 vaccine advice and recommendations.

Data on adult vaccination coverage from the AIR showed that:

  • Zoster (shingles) vaccination coverage is defined as ever having received one dose of Zostavax, or two doses of Shingrix given at least 4 weeks apart. In 2024, coverage among adults aged 65 years and over was 45.9%, and 42.2% among First Nations adults in the same age group. 
  • 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV) for pneumococcal disease coverage in adults turning 71 years rose from 37.6% in 2023 to 38.6% in 2024. 13vPCV coverage in First Nations adults turning 71 years increased from 43.0% in 2023 to 48.7% in 2024.
  • Influenza vaccine coverage in adults aged 20–49 years decreased from 24.2% in 2023 to 22.3% in 2024. It decreased from 37.4% in 2023 to 33.3% in 2024 in adults aged 50–64, and from 64.3% to 61.7% in adults aged 65 years and over.
  • For First Nations adults, influenza vaccine coverage in 2024 was also lower than in 2023 across all age groups, decreasing from 22.3% to 20.6% in those aged 20–49, from 42.2% to 39.0% in those aged 50–64 and from 64.1% to 61.9% in those aged 65 and over (NCIRS 2023). 
  • As at 30 September 2025, over 43% of individuals aged 75 years and over and 27% of those aged 65 to 74 years, had received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 12 months.
  • For First Nations people, 4.8% of adults aged 18 and over had received a COVID-19 vaccination in 12 months to 30 September 2025 (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2025).

For more information, see COVID-19 and Australia’s health 2022: data insights article The impact of a new disease: COVID-19 from 2020, 2021 and into 2022.

Where do I go for more information?

For more information on immunisation and vaccination, see:

For more on this topic, see Immunisation.