The latest data on childhood immunisation coverage by Primary Health Network (PHN) for the period up to 31 December 2024 is now available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
CESPHN ranking trends upwards
When benchmarked across all 31 PHNs nationally, CESPHN data has shown significant improvement across all three age cohorts since the commencement of the Overdue Childhood Immunisation QI Activity in early 2020:
Congratulations to immunisation providers in the region who are actively participating in our Immunisation QI Activity, as well as all providers delivering vaccination services to the community – your hard work is reflected in the ranking improvements.
Register your practice to participate in our Overdue Childhood Immunisation QI Activity.
National childhood immunisation rates trend downwards
Australia’s national aspirational coverage target is 95%. Childhood vaccination rates in Australia have been consistently declining after peaking in 2020, with rates falling every year since. Overall coverage rates were lower in 2024 than in 2020 for all routine childhood vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule (NIP).
Despite CESPHN’s improved ranking when benchmarked against other PHNs in Australia, coverage rates remain below the national target of 95%. As national and global coverage rates continue to trend downward, it is important that healthcare professionals continue to encourage timely uptake of childhood immunisations and communicate the importance of vaccinations.
Register for our Overdue Childhood Immunisation QI Activity
Register your practice to participate in our free Immunisation QI Activity: AIR Overdue Childhood Immunisations to follow up children who are overdue for their routine vaccinations.
Participating practices will be provided with a monthly interactive dashboard listing patients from their practice aged 0-5 years who are overdue for National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines. CESPHN can support practices in implementing a variety of immunisation QI activities – contact immunisation@cesphn.com.au with any enquiries.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing wishes to advise of an upcoming change to the supply of measles-containing vaccines across Australia.
From 1 July 2025, NIP supply of measles containing vaccines will move from 2 suppliers (GSK and CSL Seqirus) to only GSK:
Providers should continue to use all their current NIP stock of M-M-R® II and Varivax® until expiry date.
Confirmed case of measles
NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while travelling through Sydney International Airport. The case recently returned from South-East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
People who were on board the below flight or attended the following locations in the airport should watch for the development of symptoms. These locations do not pose an ongoing risk:
Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body. It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until 4 July 2025.
Catch-up measles vaccinations
To help protect the community from measles, ensure that anyone born after 1965 has had two doses of measles vaccine. Catch-up measles vaccinations are available for free under the National Immunisation Program for:
NSW Health also fund measles-containing vaccine for specific cohorts:
Upswing in COVID cases in NSW
NSW Health is urging the community to do everything they can to protect themselves from COVID, including getting vaccinated, as cases rise across the state.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report shows 3,475 people in NSW testing positive for COVID in the week ending 14 June, an increase of more than 10 per cent compared with the previous week. The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise and at moderate levels in NSW. Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus.
COVID vaccine recommendations
Boosters are recommended for people 75 years and older every 6 months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
For more information on eligibility for COVID vaccination, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Read the NSW Health media release here.
Australian Immunisation Handbook
The Japanese encephalitis (JE) chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook has been updated to incorporate a range of new information, including:
NCIRS – Frequently asked questions
NCIRS has also actioned a major update of their JE FAQs resource to reflect and support the updated Handbook chapter.
| APPLY HERE 28-30 August 2025 Q Station Sydney, Australia Applications close 11:59pm AEST 29 June 2025 | NCIRS Australian Vaccinology Course The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has launched the inaugural Australian Vaccinology Course – an in-person program intended for professionals seeking a deep, evidence-based understanding of vaccines, immunology and vaccination programs. Designed and delivered by Australian and international experts, this immersive program will equip you with the critical knowledge and skills to confidently navigate all aspects of the complex immunisation landscape. The event will be held at the Q Station in Manly, Sydney from 28-30 August 2025, with a one-day option available to attend the Essential immunisation provider update on Saturday 30 August 2025. |
| REGISTER HERE 25 June 2025 12:00-13:15 AEST Online | ‘Navigating vaccination for immunocompromised patients’ NCIRS webinar Vaccination in people with immunocompromise presents unique challenges for clinical decision-making, particularly as immune-suppressing therapies become more widely used and new vaccines continue to emerge. Join NCIRS for this timely webinar, which will provide an overview of major updates to the Australian Immunisation Handbook chapter on vaccination for people who are immunocompromised. |
| REGISTER HERE 25 June 2025 18:00-19:00 AEST Online | Immunisation Coalition Pneumococcal Webinar This webinar will review invasive pneumococcal disease in Australia, including illness and epidemiology, at-risk populations, and available vaccines and tools. Angela Newbound and Dr Andrew Baird will deliver the webinar. |
| REGISTER HERE 9 July 2025 18:00-19:00 AEST Online | Immunisation Coalition 2025 RSV Update Webinar This webinar will provide an overview of RSV epidemiology, disease burden and an update on the new NIP listed maternal RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody State funded programs from an indication and usage perspective. Consideration is also given to the vaccine for older adults. |
Health Referral Forms
