Childhood vaccination coverage in Australia: an equity perspective

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunization Policy
• Health Equity

Background:

• Social determinants significantly impact childhood vaccination coverage.
• Understanding vaccination gaps is crucial for public health strategies.
• Previous research indicates potential disparities in vaccine access and uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in social inequities in first dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR1) vaccination coverage.
• To compare MMR1 vaccination coverage by maternal country of birth, Aboriginal status, maternal age, socio-economic status, and remoteness in Western Australia and New South Wales.
• To identify specific population groups with lower vaccination coverage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized probabilistically-linked administrative data for over 1.2 million children born between 2002 and 2011.
• Compared MMR1 vaccination coverage at 24 months of age across various social and demographic factors.
• Conducted a comparative analysis between Western Australia and New South Wales.

Main Results:

• Vaccination coverage was 3-4% lower for children of mothers younger than 20, mothers born overseas, Aboriginal mothers, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
• Between 2007 and 2011, MMR1 coverage declined by 2.1% among children of overseas-born mothers.
• In 2011, Western Australia showed lower coverage for Aboriginal children and children of young mothers compared to New South Wales.

Conclusions:

• Despite high overall MMR1 vaccination rates, coverage inequalities have widened, particularly for children of overseas-born mothers.
• Targeted immunization plans and policy interventions are essential to achieve equitable vaccination levels.
• Future public health policies should prioritize children of overseas-born mothers and Aboriginal children to address coverage gaps.