This indicator reports on the proportion of Indigenous children aged 5 who are fully immunised. The goal for this indicator is 96% by 2023.
Why is it important?
Immunisation is highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality caused by vaccine-preventable diseases and for reducing disease disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
What data are available?
Data for this indicator were sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The reported data for this indicator are for children aged 60 to <63 months as at 30 September
What do the data show?
Progress towards the goal is on track. Time trend data are available for New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory combined. In these jurisdictions, the coverage rates at 31 December in each of the 5 years from 2014 to 2018 (94% in 2014, 95% in both 2015 and 2016 and 96% in both 2017 and 2018) were above the trajectory points required to meet the goal of 96% by 2023.
At 31 December 2018:
- nationally, 97% of Indigenous children aged 5 were fully immunised, compared with 95% of other children
- vaccine coverage rates among Indigenous children aged 5 ranged from 94% to 98% across the states and territories.