Findings from a recent National Vaccination Insights project survey has shed light on real-life challenges and experiences influencing timely, complete childhood vaccination, and the factors contributing to partial vaccination among young children in Australia.
A summary of the parent interview key findings offer important insights for healthcare professionals working to improve vaccine uptake.
Parents and carers described various practical difficulties they faced – including getting a vaccination appointment, being able to afford costs associated with vaccination and prioritising their child’s vaccination over work and other commitments – that can lead to access issues.
They also expressed uncertainty about the safety of vaccines for their child and mistrust about the information they receive about vaccines from immunisation providers.
Childhood vaccination QI activity
ACTION: Register your practice to participate in our Immunisation QI Activity: AIR Overdue Childhood Immunisations.
Australia is experiencing several outbreaks of measles this year and most cases have been in unvaccinated adults, aged between 20 and 49 years.
Measles cases in Australia are usually caught by people travelling overseas to outbreak areas subsequently spread to others upon returning, including young children and unvaccinated adults.
Measles is a highly contagious disease – a single contagious person can infect up to 18 other people in an unvaccinated or under-vaccinated population.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer is stressing the importance of measles vaccination amid growing concern about the threat of measles disease in Australia and an ongoing rise in cases around the world.
Healthcare providers are encouraged to be a strong advocate for measles vaccination to help prevent outbreaks of measles.
Providers should check that all patients, particularly those age between 20 and 49 years, have received the recommended two doses of measles vaccine.
In cases where there are no records and patient unsure about their vaccination history, an additional two doses are recommended given 4 weeks apart.
There is ‘absolutely no harm at all’ in people who have already had two doses of measles vaccine having an additional dose – NCIRS Director Professor Kristine Macartney assured, and that ‘getting a second dose if you think you’ve [only] had one dose is perfectly fine’.
Measles vaccination QI activity
Healthcare providers are encouraged to conduct a measles QI activity to recall all patients, particularly those age between 20 and 49 years, who have not received two doses of measles vaccine.
ACTION: Book a QI session with a PHN support staff, or follow MMR QI guidelines to conduct this QI activity.
Winter is on its way, so now is the time to prepare your patients for the flu season – Australia’s Chief Medical Officer emphasises the importance for flu vaccination in the CMO statement released 13 April 2025.
Immunisation providers are encouraged to talk to all patients about the importance of the flu vaccine, particularly patients who are most at risk, in line with this year’s influenza vaccination recommendations from the ATAGI, and to access this year’s NIP program advice for health professionals.
Getting vaccinated from April onwards provides protection during the peak of the season, and yearly vaccination is the best protection against influenza.
Flu vaccines are free undertheNIP for those most at risk, including:
The Practice Incentive Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI) focuses on 10 Quality Improvement Measures (QIMs) – three of which are influenza QI activities
ACTION: Book a Flu QI session with a PHN support staff for assistance, or follow the above recipes/walkthroughs to conduct these influenza QI activities, which can be recorded on the Immunisation QI Template.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook influenza chapter was revised to reflect new vaccines and updated 2025 advice. The changes include:
A new maternal RSV program Evidence Review resource has been developed to support conversations maternal RSV vaccination with Abrysvo between health professionals and pregnant women.
Review also the suite of resources on the RSV vaccination toolkit webpage and introduction to maternal RSV vaccine webpage.
Some vaccines are available at a community pharmacy. This summary table, updated March 2025, provides a guide to the vaccines available within a community pharmacy in each state and territory, whether they are funded under the National Immunisation Program and lists other eligibility requirements.
Health Referral Forms
