This indicator reports on the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5 who are fully immunised. The goal for this indicator is 96% by 2023.
Why is it important?
Immunisation is important in protecting children from harmful infectious diseases. The National Immunisation Program Schedule sets out which vaccines should be provided at which ages, including for children aged 5.
What data are available?
Data for this indicator were sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register. The reported data for this indicator are for children aged 60 to <63 months as at 30 September. December quarter data from 5 jurisdictions—New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory—were used to inform goal setting due to data availability when the goals were set. Annualised national data were available from 2008 and are also presented.Data for this indicator were sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register. The reported data for this indicator are for children aged 60 to <63 months as at 30 September. Data from 5 jurisdictions—New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory—were used to inform goal setting due to data availability when the goals were set. National data were available from 2008 and are also presented.
What do the data show?
Progress towards the goal is on track.
- In the 5 jurisdictions combined, the rate of children aged 5 who were fully immunised at 31 December 2020 was 97%, which was above the trajectory point of 95% to meet the goal.
In the combined 5 jurisdictions, as at 31 December in each year:
- The coverage rates for Indigenous Australian children aged 5 increased over time from 76% in 2008 to 97% in 2020.
- The coverage rates in each of the 7 years from 2014 to 2020 were above the trajectory required to meet the goal of 96% by 2023.
- Additionally, the rates from 2017 to 2020 were above the goal of 96% for 2023. Thus, if this level of coverage is maintained, the goal will be met.
National data are available from 2008. Nationally, in 2020, based on annualised data (to match immunisation data published elsewhere):
- 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 100% in the Australian Capital Territory to 96% in Western Australia.