Immunisation coverage annual report, 2015

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program Register are key data sources.
• Annual reports track immunisation coverage and timeliness against national standards.
• Monitoring vaccine uptake is crucial for disease prevention and public health strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the 9th annual immunisation coverage report for Australia, focusing on 2015 data.
• To analyse vaccination coverage at standard age milestones and timeliness by Indigenous status.
• To report on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage and trends in vaccination objections and exemptions.

Main Methods:

• Data extraction from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register for 2015.
• Analysis of coverage for fully immunised status and individual vaccines at 12, 24, and 60 months.
• Examination of vaccination timeliness, HPV vaccine uptake, and registered objections/exemptions by Indigenous status.

Main Results:

• Overall 'fully immunised' coverage was stable at 12 and 24 months, reaching a record 93% at 60 months in 2015.
• Coverage for fully immunised Indigenous children remained lower than non-Indigenous children (3.4% at 12 months, 3.3% at 24 months).
• HPV vaccine uptake increased, with 77.8% of 15-year-old females having 3 doses; vaccination objections decreased to 1.2%, while medical exemptions doubled.

Conclusions:

• Childhood immunisation coverage in Australia remains high, with record achievement at 60 months.
• Persistent disparities in coverage and timeliness exist for Indigenous children, although improvements were noted.
• Decreased vaccination objections and increased medical exemptions highlight evolving vaccination landscapes.