Goal 20: Immunisation for pneumonia— people aged 50 and over

This indicator reports on the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over who are immunised for pneumonia. The goal for this indicator is 33% by 2023.

Why is it important?

Immunisation is important in protecting older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people against harmful infectious diseases. Indigenous Australians may be at increased risk of severe illness resulting from pneumonia (pneumococcus) due to other risk factors and comorbidities.

What data are available?

Data on immunisation for pneumonia are available from ABS health survey data. The most recent such survey with estimates for Indigenous people was the 2018–19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (ABS 2019).

What do the data show?

Progress towards the goal is on track.

  • The proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over who reported that they had been immunised for pneumonia in the previous 5 years fluctuated over time.
  • In 2018–19, the rate (32%) was above the trajectory point required to meet the goal (31%).

In 2018–19, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over:

  • 27% of those aged 50–64, and 46% of those aged 65 and over reported that they had been immunised for pneumonia in the previous 5 years
  • 67% of those aged 50–64, and 44% of those aged 65 and over had never been immunised for pneumonia.
  • Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over who lived in Remote areas were slightly more likely to report that they had been immunised for pneumonia than those in Non-remote areas—34% compared with 32%.

Figure 20.1: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over who were immunised for pneumonia in the previous 5 years

This figure shows the baseline data, from 2001 to 2012–13, the trajectory towards the goal, from 2014 to 2023. New data from 2018–19 for the proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over who were immunised for pneumonia in the previous 5 years are also plotted. There is only one data point—in 2018–19, 32.0% of Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over were immunised for pneumonia in the previous 5 years.

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Figure 20.2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over who reported being immunised for pneumonia, by sex, remoteness and timing of vaccination, 2018–19

The figure shows the rate of pneumonia immunisation (in the last 5 years) among Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over, by remoteness and sex. The rate was slightly higher in remote areas (33.7%) than in non-remote areas (31.8%). Across Australia, females were more likely to get vaccinated than males (35.2% and 28.4%, respectively).  

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Figure 20.3: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over who reported being immunised for pneumonia, by age group and timing of vaccination, 2018–19

The figure shows that Indigenous Australians aged 65+ were more likely to be vaccinated for pneumonia in the past 5 years than those aged 50–64 (45.5% compared to 26.8%). Indigenous Australians aged 50–64 years were more likely to have been never vaccinated for pneumonia than those aged 65+ (67.3% compared to 43.7%).

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References

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2019. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey. Canberra: ABS. Viewed 28 October 2020.