Achieving high immunisation rates amongst children in the Australian Capital Territory: a collaborative effort

In September 2008 the ACT achieved the highest childhood coverage rates in Australia with rates of 93.5% (12-15-month age cohort), 94.9% (24-27-month age cohort) and 90.58% (60-63-month age cohort).

To analyse the key contributing factors and policy initiatives that have likely to have led to high childhood immunisation rates in the ACT.

Data used in this report were sourced from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) held at Medicare Australia, General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) 'calculation' data held at ACT Division of General Practice and internal immunisation databases held at Health Protection Service.

Although the reasons for the high coverage rates seen in children are multi factorial (including national and consumer factors), key reasons locally in the ACT include: (a) the implementation of an ACT-wide immunisation strategy; (b) proactive follow up of children overdue for immunisation; (c) more sustainable provision of immunisation services across both public and private health providers; and (d) a centralised vaccine delivery service and 'cold chain' monitoring system.

Although nationwide immunisation policy has been successful in increasing childhood coverage rates across all Australian jurisdictions, it is important to also acknowledge local factors that have likely to have contributed to the successful implementation of the Immunise Australia Program at the coal face.