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.
What do the data show?
Progress towards the goal is on track. 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.
In these jurisdictions combined, as at 31 December in each year:
- The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5 increased over time from 76% in 2008 to 97% in 2019.
- The coverage rates in each of the 6 years from 2014 to 2019 were above the trajectory required to meet the goal of 96% by 2023. In 2019, the rate was 97% with a trajectory point of 95%.
- Additionally, the rates from 2017 to 2019 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, as at 31 December 2019:
- 97% of Indigenous children aged 5 were fully immunised, compared with 95% of other children.
- vaccine coverage rates among Indigenous children aged 5 was similar across states and territories, ranging from 95% in the Australian Capital Territory to 98% in New South Wales.