Summary

Immunisation is a safe and effective way to protect children from harmful infectious diseases and at the population level, prevent the spread of these diseases amongst the community.

This web update presents 2016–17 immunisation rates for all children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 1, 2 and 5.

Results are presented for the 31 Primary Health Network (PHN) areas. Where possible they are broken down into smaller geographic areas, including for more than 300 smaller areas and across Australian postcodes. Further detailed rates are available in the downloadable Excel sheet and the interactive web tool allowing users to compare results over time by geography and age group.

In 2016–17:

  • Nationally 93.5% of all children aged 5 were immunised. All PHN areas achieved an immunisation rate of 90% or more, ranging from 96.0% in Western NSW to 90.6% in North Coast (NSW)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5 had an even higher national immunisation rate of 95.7%. However, there was wider variation across PHN areas, ranging from 98.0% in the Nepean Blue Mountains (NSW) to 89.8% in Western Victoria.

Immunisation rates for children 2016–17 fact sheet

For more up-to-date information on childhood immunisations refer to the Australia's Health Performance Framework indicator: Immunisation rates for vaccines in the national schedule